ESPIONAGE PANEL CHIEF TELLS OF TALKS WITH AGENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000201840013-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 21, 2012
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: November 22, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/21 : CIA-RDP90-00965R000201840013-6
ARI ICLE AP74
ON PAGE E
NEW YORK TIMES
22 November 1985
Espionage Panel Chief Tells of a s
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21 - The
chairman of a Pentagon commission
on security said today that he had dis-
cussed Soviet espionage techniques
with a Soviet intelligence officer who
With Agent .
The proposal for expanded use of
polygraph tests is likely to face opposi.
tion in Congress where some legisla-
tors have questioned their validity.
The commission was appointed to
study the lessons learned from several
turned to 'Moscow. recent spy cases, including the 17-year
Gen. Richard Stilwell, the commis- espionage career of John A. Walker
sion chairman, said the officer, Vitaly Jr., a retired Navy officer who has ad-
Yurchenko, confirmed several assess- I mitted spying for the Soviet Union.
ments made by American intelligence I The commission said that while the
officials. Sources familiar with the dis- damage caused to the military by se-
cussion said that Mr. Yurchenko, a for- curity breaches had been relatively
mer officer in K.G.B., the Soviet intelli small, some spying had been "gravely
gence agency, told General Stilwell damaging." The report, which makes
that most of the Americans who spied 63 separate recommendations, ac-
tor the Soviet Union were volunteers, knowledged that the Pentagon has
not recruits. failed to follow existing rules.
The commission today announced its "Security regulations are often vio-
recommendations for a broad array of lated," it said,, "but only serious cases
changes in the military's security are typically ade a matter of report;
procedures. General Stilwell discussed few of those are investigated, even
the proposals with reporters and later where a pattern of such conduct is in
in an interview. He said the continuing evidence; and fewer still result in purr
uncertainty over whether Mr. Yur- ishment."
chenko was a Soviet plant or a defector The report recommends that the
who changed his mind would not affect Pentagon begin enforcing a policy that
the commission's conclusions. requires investigations , every five
Weinberger Orders Steps years of those who hold "top secret"
The meeting between Mr. Yurchenko clearances.
and the chairman of a high-level com- Additionally, the commission said
mission to review security procedures the Defense Department investigators
was further evidence of the extent to who do the reinvestigations should
which senior Administration officials ha,,e access to both Federal criminal
had been convinced that Mr. Yur- records and "to other automated data
chenko was a defector. Mr. Yurchenko banks of the Federal government
defected in August but later asserted which contain information of potential
that he had been drugged and kid- security significance."
napped by the Central Intelligence In the past several years, several as
Agency. The agency denied it. tive or retired members of the military
Some Administration officials have or employees Of civilian defense con-
since said that Mr. Yurchenko might tractors have been accused of volun-
have been a Soviet plant. General Stil- teering to spy for the Soviet Union. Ac-
well, the former Deputy Under Secre- cording to the authorities, Arthur
tary of Defense for Policy, said he_be- Walker told them his brother John A.
Walker Jr. contacted the Soviets in the
lieved Mr. Yurchenko's defection had mid-1960's. Christopher John Boyce
been genuine. Andrew Daulton Lee.
The report on security has been re- The commission's report calls for in-. Weinberger ined who Defense Secretary will decide Ces c creased research to try to develop tests
~ re~- to determine characteristics of people
erecommendations will t. Several which
action. Sv Mr. Wean- compelled to seek or reveal secret in-
quire Congressional adopt.
qformation.
berger has already ordered all military: formation.
commanders to conduct a "top to bot-11
tom" inspection of security practices
and make a report by Oct. 1, 1986.
Lie Detector Tests Urged
The commission recommended that
the three million people with clear-
ances to handle "secret" material
subject to random polygraph, or lie-de-
tector, tests. It called for stiffer penal-
ties for security lapses by military con- I
tractors; travel restrictions on Eastern
bloc diplomats assigned to the United
Nations and rewards for people who
(turn in spies.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/21 : CIA-RDP90-00965R000201840013-6