REVIEW OF CLASSIFIED ITEMS IN THE FORRESTAL DIARIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B00236R000100040003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 37
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 6, 1979
• Content Type: MF

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MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Assistant
Information Management Staff, DDO
Chief, Classification Review Division, DDA
SUBJECT: Review of Classified Items in the
Forrestal Diaries
1. The Historian for the Office of the Secretary of Defense,
Alfred Goldberg, has requested a current review of 13 items in the
Forrestal Diaries which remained classified following the CIA review
in 1972.
2. We have reviewed these items and recommend that the Agency
declassify eleven items and retain the classification on two.
3. A copy of the items to be reviewed and the related DOD/CIA
correspondence are contained in TAB A. The recommended actions and
justifications are in TAB B.
4. Would you please provide us with your comments on this
proposed response to DOD by 13 December 1979.
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A
Attachments: As stated
OSD review(s) completed.
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OSD HAS NO OBJECTION TO
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TAB B
6 Dec. 1979
Cltll/ISS/i)DA
SUPJL;CT: CIA 1'ropoonci :teview Actions on Classified
Items in the :Forrestal Diaries
Item No. Action Proposed Justification
954 Declass i.f'r Transfer of the functions of the
Atrategic Services Unit (SSU) to
GIN is described in Senate Intell-
S_r;ence Activities Report* (Book IV
pane 14).
95d I)eclas. if A margiral case exists to require
classified protection because of
information on personnel strengths
of S2U as of April 1946. However,
data on personnel transferred from
WU to CIG can be derived from
footnote page 14 see reference
above.
1219 lleclass.if: No identifiable security damage
:since it records an action to
absorb atomic engergy intelligence
personnel within GIG
1252 Declassi No security damage in a description
of the relations between the
Director, CIG and the National
Intelligence Authority (NIA).
1275-6 Declassi
No damage in an unclassified
skeletonized statement of the
objectives of the Central Intell-
igence Group (CIG)
Final Report of the select Committee to Study Governmenta125X1
Operations with re:m ct to Intelligence Activities,
US Senate Report No. 94-755, Book IV Hisfory of the A
Central Intelli ;ence Agency (prepared by
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Item No. Action Prooo:;eJ Justification
1200 reclassify iar;inal case exists to retain
classification on basis of
"sources and methods" reforPnnP
i n rr However n orma on
in this item would have been
non-sensitive even in the context
if that specific period.
1458 Declassify Document cited was declassified
in action of 27 January 1978.
(GIG Weekly Summary, No. 33,
;l Jan. 1947)
1688 Declassify No security damage in discussion
of change of authority of Director,
(Two items) GIG in his relation to, the NIA.
Declassify No security damage about CIG
functions for external clandestine
operations. Discussion presented
can page 14 Book IV Senate Report.
1822 Declassify Article reviewed and declassified
on 22 February 1978 (CIG Special
Evaluation, No. 20, 16 Sept. 1947)
1906 Declassify This item discussed amply on
pages 2b and 27 including footnotes
.,enate Report same reference.
2077
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Declassify CIA survey discussed in last para 25X
p. 17 of Senate Report same reference]
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OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON. O.C. 20301
COMPTROLLER
(Administration)
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Sincerely,
Central Intel igence Agency
211 Key Building
Rosslyn, Virginia
November 8, 1979
During the 1972 classification review of the Forrestal Diaries,
the Central Intelligence Agency determined that 13 items should
not be declassified.
Since that time, this office has received numerous inquiries for
information on the withheld material. So far, we have been able
to satisfy the historical researchers that the deletions were
immaterial to their research project. In view of substantive
releases since 1972 and amendments in declassification regulations,
it appears advisable to re-review the deleted material.
Attached are the 13 items not declassified by the Central
Intelligence Agency in 1972 together with the correspondence
on this matter.
The views of the Central Intelligence Agency on the current
classification or declassification of this material would be
appreciated at the earliest practicable time.
Enclosures
Forrestal Diaries pages:
954,958,1219,1252,1275-6,
1280,1458-9,1688,1822-23,
1906,2077,2609,2705-11
Alfred Goldberg
Historian, OSD
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
10 August 1972
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MEMORANDUM FOR: R. A. Winnacker, OSD Historian
SUBJECT Declassification of the Forrestal Diaries
REFERENCE : Memorandum from Addressee, through
I
Dear Rudy,
1. We have completed our review of your request
for CIA concurrence in the declassification of the 11
,intelligence-related passages from the Forrestal Diaries
for the years 1946-47, copies of which you provided us
in referenced memorandum. This review disclosed that
most of these-items consisted not of Forrestal's personal
comments on events of the day, but of verbatim extracts
from classified intelligence publications of the Central
Intelligence Group (CIG), the predecessor of CIA (pp.
1280, 1458-59, and 1822-23), and detailed summaries of
the proceedings of the National Intelligence Authority,
at that time the senior body of the intelligence com-
munity (pp. 9_54,, 9.58, 1219, 1252,. 12.75-76, and 1688) .
We are particularly concerned that in the Diaries, all
sessions that were cited except the last one were in-
correctly designated as State-War-Navy meetings, as
can be ascertained from the official minutes of the NIA.
This confusion probably resulted from overlapping member-
ship between the two bodies.
2. Having reviewed the request, the Director has
ruled that CIA. cannot concur in the declassification.of
the above referenced CIG intelligence reports and the
summaries of NIA proceedings. While some of the material
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may on its face appear to be no longer sensitive, it might
reveal under specialized scrutiny, significant insights
into intelligence sources and methods. In accordance
with Executive Order 11652 and the Director's statutory
responsibility to protect such sources and methods, the
Director therefore regrets that he is unable to agree to
the declassification of the documents under consideration.
3. No objection is taken to the declassification
of Forrestal's notes of 20 July 1946 on his briefing by
Admiral Inglis, Chief of Naval Intelligence, concerning
the latter's trip through Europe in the early summer of
that year (p. 1167). Most of this material was published
in the 1951 Viking Press edition of the Diaries (pp. 184-85).
.4. Nor do we object to release of Forrestal's
notes on Senator Hickenlooper's criticism of CIG at the
luncheon with Admiral Strauss on 8 July 1947 (p. 1714).
We do not construe them as CIG intelligence.
5. In summary, CIA does not concur in the down-
grading or declassification of Forrestal Diary pages
954, 958, 1219, 1252, 1275-76, 1280, 1458-59, 1688, and
1822-23, but raises no objection to the declassification
of pages 1167 and 1714. We appreciate being consulted
in the review of the above documents and will be happy
to review further requests relating to the Diaries or
other classified material relating to CIA and its
predecessors.
CIA Historian
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OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301
September 7, 1972
administration)
25X1A
&W=: Review of the Forrestal Diaries
A review of the Forrestal. Diaries for the period after
September 17, 1947, indicates that tho attached six items are of
possible interest to the Central. Intelligence Agency. The views of
your agency on the declassification and release of these items
as well as the current classification category, if azw ?? are
requested at the earliest practicable time.
MEMORANDUM FOR
R. A. Winnacker
Hi3torian, OSD
6 Enclosures:
Pages 1906, 1970, 2077,
2603, 2609, and 2705-11
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. R. A. Winnacker
Historian, OSD
SUBJECT Declassification of Six Items from
the Forrestal Diaries
REFERENCE :1 Mpmora m Addressee to Mr.
7 September 1972
Dear Rudy,
1. Review of the six referenced portions of
Secretary of Defense James 'V. Forrestal's Diaries
shows that these passages are concerned with a wide
variety of intelligence information. It is the judgment
of this Agency that the declassification of this
information would reveal significant information per-
taining to US intelligence sources and methods. This
Agency therefore regrets that it cannot at this time
concur in the proposed declassification and release
of the six referenced passages, namely: Pages 1,206,
1970, 2P,7, 2603, 2609, and 27.05-11.
z 'tt
2. in response to your question as to the current
classification category required by this material we
are classifying all six passages as Secret.
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OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, 0. C. 20301
COMITEOLLEA
(Administration)
25X1A
MEMORANDUM FOR
SUBJECT: Declassification of Forrestal Diaries
June 13, 1973
I am cleaning up the last remaining problems on the declassification
of the Forrestal Diaries and, before closing the books, I would appreciate
the views of your agency on the following matter.
In a memorandum dated October 12, 1972, your agency decided against
the declassification of 6 entries in these Diaries on pages 1906, 1970,
2077, 2603, 2609, and 2705-11.
The deletions of pages 1970 and 2609 might create future problems
in view of the material already published in 1951 in the Forrestal
Diaries on pages 349 and 512, which might not have been available to
your reviewers.
You will note that the gist of the first two paragrapahappeara on
page 349, and the last paragraph has been cleared by Army. In these
circumstances, is release of the entire item feasible? 1`',
As for the information on page 2609 of the manuscript, page 512
summarizes the views stated in paragraphs (1) and (2) and the first
sentence of paragraph (3). Would it be possible to release page 2609
after deleting everything after the first sentence of paragraph (3)?
And finally there is page 2603, where the channel of transmittal
appears to create difficulties. State has no objection to clearing
this item which, by the way, is not cited in the 1951 publication.
Any new idea?
If you determine that the views of October 12, 1972, should prevail,
a telephone call will suffice. If there are any amendments, a memorandum
would be appreciated.
Enclosures
R. A. Winnacker
historian, OSD
f ri ll
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
9 July 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Dr. R. A. Winnacker
Historian, OSD
SUBJECT : Declassification of Forrestal Diaries
REFERENCE . Your Memorandum of June 13, 1973,
same subject
Rudy:
The referenced memorandum makes iminently good sense.
Accordingly, this Agency withdraws its security objections to the
paragraphs appearing on page 1970 and to the item appearing on
page 2603. This latter item, however, may well be treated as
privileged information in view of the less than complimentary
ramarks it makes relative to Ambassador Caffery. For this
reason, you may wish to continue the withholding of the total item.
We also concur in the release of information on page 2609 of
the manuscript. In accordance with your suggestion; namely,
paragraphs 1 and 2 in their entirety may be released and the first
sentence of paragraph 3. The remainder of paragraph 3 should be
deleted.
Records Management Officer
STATINTL
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and Davy w,--.s held at 11:00 e.m. in the Office of
STATE"-VA -NAVY METING
A meeting of the Secretaries of State, k'a.r,
the Secretary of State. Present:
Honorable Janie F. Byrnes,
Secretary of State;
Honorable I%obert P. Patterson,
Secretary of War;
Honorable James X-lorrestal,
Secretary of the Navy;
Honorable Hoard C. Petersen,
ss'sta-nt Secretary of Z?,ar;
Mr. H. Froe.;,a.n Matthews, Director,
Office of European Affairs,
State Department;
Captain Robert L. Dennison, USN,
Assisv-nt Chief of Naval Operations
for o".. tico-I'iilitary Affairs,
I:a.vy Department;
Mr. Edward '71dalgo,
Special Assistant to the.
Secretary of the Navy.
Mr. Gromyko in New York during the receAt UN
0 not retain troops anywhere against the vill of
the nation affected and that he had so informed
calling for a c tatesent as to the date of with-
drawal. Mr. Byrnes stated that the U S could
address a letter to the other two Secretaries
Secretaries approved. this proposal.
2. Galare gos . Mr. 3yrnes referred to
inquiries the'ycuedoran Ambass2dor concern-
ing the witrdrawal of United States forces from
the Galapagos islands. Mr. Patterson stated that
withdrawal could. subs tantially be completed by
May let end it was agreed that Mr. Byrnes would
completely liquidated by June 1947. The three,
would avail itself, if necessary, of the
facilities and personnel of SSU which would be
gradual liquidateo:: of the SS:J unit of the War
Department. T h-13 proposal sets forth the pro-
cedur?e whereby the Central Intelligence Group
1. P:?tlonal Intelligence Author.
Admiral Soue.rs p_?esented a proposal 7o the
meeting.
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,iEETIi:^u OF THE SECR ifhIcS GF #TATF, 'CAP. AND NAVY
.April 2, 1943 ---- 'll A. M.
Present: The Eecrttrsry of State
The Cecretrry of W--r, eocor>r-nied by
Aceiatrnt Socretrry Petersen
The ecr curry of the Navy, acco,renied by
C~-7.trln h. Ill. Dennison
..,ere ?.r yroved by the thrl e -ecrett-ries rod f.dmirrl Souers
unlertoo;c to obt{in rd-.irFl Ler?hy' e r-rrrovD1 thus corrrletin
Xi; ection thereon. (? :i ?irr1 .ouers then left the meetifl..1
the rt':".ition of ridrintQtr!nttve Fr'endnents proroFed by t e
' rr :)ennrtmerst the ^olicl' '?^ror r'nd droft directive on
-47. ..P rrer.tioned,
until fin:l 1i^.ut fticn by June 1~
in this cornpction, th'' Eitur tlon in rh inp where General
''ede:reyer hrd c-lled for R -necirl Survev. ,SL1 personnel
in Chin" no'' np -,roxi'nrte 250. Totrl perrorr.el of 5St' is
about 2,7') which ie bein3 ri-diced rt the rite of -bout
4300 s month. In re-1y ton nuw