JOHN MARKS TALKS ABOUT THE CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000300510143-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2004
• Sequence Number: 143
• Publication Date: May 13, 1975
• Content Type: NSPR

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research and oth-e r r k knds of ctiviagree -- that American business is
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ties, but I didn't know that they, had going to back off some. of its close ,
gone in specifically after a Soviet cooperation with the CIA because It
TallsAbout submarine, I do know in a general doesn't want to get nationalized or
way that. the CIA has been very ac- have its public interest- tarnished: I
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tively working with all kinds of know for a fact that ITT (Iitternatton-.
awn" IA American businesses and that, they al Telephone and Telegraph), Pan
.he C. have working "sigreements with quite
Am and W.R. Grace Shipping' t a? t/ ?#~~ f
a few American companies, so this eve all provided cover for the CIA
John D. Marks worked as an in6rrlla kind of thing with Hughes didn't sun overseas in the past. I don't think R1910
gence analyst for the State Department prise me. For .example, one former that's consistent with their proper
aefore writipg, with victor Marchetti i CIA guy with 20 years in the agency roles. it r
'The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence" told me about ' how, in one Latin . _
American country the CIA had a deal
Flow do you know that for a
- publication of which the C1A at. with Pan American Airlines where "
-ertr of stop in court. Marks, now the CIA was given access to all the fact?
director of the CIA research project ! baggage and mail that went through A. I,ve talked to Q IA people who /~j~.a t a/
aeing conducted by the Center for Not- on Pan American planes. To facili-
=ional Security. Studies, is attempting to tate the CIA's access, Pan Am even have told me. I've said it publicly in . J .~_
speeches and no one has challenged , l f l f
set Congress to investigate intelligenc?i supplied theCIA's men with Pan Air; me, Srv
agencies. He was interviewed by Wash. overalls, which.would . give them a
-ngton Star Staff Writer Allan Frank. I better 'excuse to be rummaging Q, Will it hurt Anrresicais busi-
around in the baggage compartments nesses not to. be connected with the .
Question- In what areas of ordl? t of Pan Am's planes. This kind of ar: CIA?
nary life has the CIA been irivoli ed rangement has existed all over the A?. It may in some areas. American
that you thinkwill surprise or shock 1 world with American business, business cooperation with the CIA
the American people if evidence has been a two-way street. These
comes out during the hearings about Q: Do you feel that U.S. intelli-
businesses have done favors for the
such activities? genre efforts in that kind of operation CIA and the CIA in return, either for-
will be hampered, particularly with orally or informally, has passed
Marks: The CIA has been heavily regard to Pan Am, now that the Ira-1 information - economic intelligence passed
I
involved in church activities.. reli mans are about to buy a major pot-+ p
-=- to the American businesses which -
gious activities. They've infiltrated tion of Pan Am? has been very helpful to them. One
=he church and used the church or - A: No, in this case because the Ira- longttime CIA operative in South ~t ld-bl?
Closel
ha
v
ery
s
church groups as funding malt government
y . e ica,told me that while he had no
-nechanisms. They solicit informa- cooperated with, and was put in by, official directive to help out Ameri- I
-.ion from missionaries, try to hire the CIA: Iranian intelligence cooper- can busiessmeri overseas, he would
CIA I can
ith th
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y w
ose
ill ates very
-missionaries. Things of that sort w on information that was helpful.
shock a lot of people- They also had a think some of the exposures that +- r -'6 /3t
contributory pension plan and the in-' have come out recently of American Information, for instance, on "which ?rrS~,
companies
vestment programs were regularly business contacts and cooperation were. about to be ".~
tionalized
uri-through the CIA's bank of com- may have some effect because I think , which companies were.
puters at Langley, which are some of foreign countries now are going to be in trouble with the local government.. -
I believe this.goes on an a broader /~~
in the nutting much more pressure on , _ .
scal
e
world. This is a profit-making plan . American businesses operating in
For private employes and government their countries not to be espionage, ~yPo~Q en a r}gpree y, 'pp,~'
_....a.....1 111.1 Q:.Do you th with ?4 .
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compuicrs are not ZulrVwcu, W LM r-?????~..-,
--- , ---- -- --- Colby's analysis that if the a,>an is used for that sort of thing. I think liam Colby himself told the press last Airraite overseas, it will h- rt the
that will. shock people. We also know year that over 200 businessmen, or Untitad overseas,
s'. as, it i position in "
that the CIA has made use of private so-called businessmen overseas, the world? _ ' .
investigating firms in this country to were really CIA operatives. Now the
3o some of its domestic operations. press didn't report that it was Wit- I A: No:.I.think it would be a much k
l
Again, I think this may shock the liam Colby - it was a "high U.S. offi- "healthier situation if American busi-
American people. cial," but I can tell you it was Colby.' ness concentrated on being a good ~~ ,
orate citizen overseas and didn't 49
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Q: Have you read any stories late- Q: But what will the exposures make itself an extension of American
fyabout the CIA that surprised you? really meant? intelligence operations. And I should
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A: It's hard to be surprised by any- A: Exposures are going to limit ' emphasize that its not al
eration be- business that is doing this.
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I this
hing now, but I guess I have to say eras surprised when I found out that tween American businesses and the
business of Q: What to you is the most impor-
i
h
mary
e pr
cause t
brie CIA had gone to the Mafia to take CIA bean assassination contract out on ' American business should not be rant lead the congressional investi
Fidel Castro. I always thought that espionage. The companies are going gatingcomrnittees could pursue? For
t
:ttr government didn't deal with the to see that they are not going to be instance, do you have any proof that
wiafia. Maybe that's .naive, but. that able to get away with this kind of the CIA ever assassinated anybody.
surprised zne close coooperation without anybody A. Do I have any proof? .I don't
knowing it and they are going to have have any proof I could go into a court
'Q: Do you believe the stories that to be responsible. for their acts. If of law with. I- know from my own
.he CIA went to the 14fafia? Or the they want to own up to the fact that sources and from things that have
stories about Howard Hughes' con they're cooperating with. the CIA, things f itl
nection with the Soviet submarine that's fine. But I have a feeling -- ..
a.nd the CL4 ?
Approved For Release 2005/01/11 : CIA-RDP88-01315 R000300510143-8
A: Yes, I believe them. I've con-
firmed them through my own
_..?,,.,.oc T knave thnt IT_S-. intelligence -