PRESIDENT WARNS AGAINST DISCLOSING SECRETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100030065-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 65
• Publication Date: September 1, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100030065-7
1 I I
ARTICLE APPEARED
ON PAGE :9
NEW YORK TIMES
1 September 1983
President Warns Against Disclosing Secrets
Special to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31- President
Reagan has urged Federal employees
in a memorandum not to make unau-
thorized disclosures of classified infor-
mation- and warned that criminal
prosecution would follow in cases
"whemcircumstances warrant." .
Copies of the memorandum, bearing
a facsimile of the President's signa-
ture, were sent to all Federal depart-
ments and agencies Tuesday, said an
Administration official who asked not
to be identified. He said it was possible
that some agencies might not distrib-
ute it to employees who never handle
information classified as confidential,
secret or top secret.
On March 11 the President issued a
National Security Decision Directive,
which called for greater efforts to in-
vestigate and curb such "leaks."
The official said of the President that
"no particular event or leak caused
him to decide to issue the Government-
wide memorandum" and added, "In
effect, it is a way of looking each em-
ployee in the eye and remind them of
their responsibililties."
The official said the memorandum
was directed only at the disclosure of
classified information. "He's not talk-
ing about a policy paper on tax rates or
of discussion of a feud in his staff." the
official said. "That kind of thing an-
noys all Presidents, but he wanted to
stress his concern about secret infor.
mation."
The President's two-page memoran-
dum described 'unauthorized disclo.
sums as "illegal" and said Govern-
ment employee oaths to discharge pub-
lic duties faithfully "is violated" when
such disclosures take place.
Mr..Reagan also wrote, "As public
servants we have no legitimate excuse
for reso to such unauthorized dis-
," %ding that "there are other
means avpilable to express ourselves."
He asserted that his Administration
had made "every effort" to keep Con-
gress and the public informed about na-
tional security policies. He also said
there were "mechanisms" for present-
ing alternative views and opinions
within government, probably an allu-
sion to "dissent" channels is some de-
partments.
"Workable procedures also exist for
reporting wrongdoing or illegalities,"
Mr. Reagan said. He added that Gov-
ernment employees had the right to
leave their posts and to criticize poli-
cies, adding, "What we do not have is
the right to damage our country by giv-
ing away its necessary secrets."
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100030065-7