LETTER TO DR. JAMES B. RHOADES FROM JAMES E. SCHLESINGER

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP93B01194R001300100046-7
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
13
Document Creation Date: 
December 12, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 26, 2001
Sequence Number: 
46
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 16, 1973
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP93B01194R001300100046-7.pdf1.03 MB
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r+ i pproved for Release 2002/01/08 _ CIA-RQP93BQ1194.R001300.1000.46-7 - Dr:. -James B_ . Rhoads UUW t;U L:'11 trl Archivist of the United Staten Zlational.Archives and Records Service Eighth and-Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D. C.. 20408 Dear. -Dr. Rhoads : ?Pursuan*_ to Section 5(E) of Exacutiva Order- 11652 the Central task of conducting a systematic declassification review of_ these Intelligence Agency has detailed three experienced officers +to the on'.which sucn?.iaaterial shall become declassified.: Office. of Strategic Services, and in the custody of the National Archives (MARS Record Group 226). They are currently in the process of:-developing:a list identifying those records which require continued classification, indicating in each instance the reason why continued. protection is deemed necessary. When completed, this lint will be submitted to me for final determination and specification of~the dates possible use in the broader context of the government--vide declassi that they will prove of interest to the National Archives and of. gu ance is also ral y _applirable to related. intelligence records af~tfi3s~ envy. the guidelines are foraarc'ed fiere,~th in the belief, though formulated with Record Group226 svecificall in'mind .t$- . the.revieuing officers in fulfilling their re3ponsibillties... Al- D' eclassification guidelines have been promulgated to assist'- Sincerely, Enclosure SAIC:CS:GFD:mj Origj p For Release'2002/01/0 --)CIA-RDP93BQ1,1 l - ER 1 OGC ? (1r!a.lrF*~*?,?.eR General Guidance The purpose of declassification review is to make available to .the general public the maximum amount of data consistent with the obligation to safeguard national security interests, to protect sensitive intelligence methods and sources, to avoid exacerbating foreign relations, and to respect legitimate rights of privacy. Of these, the matter of protection of sensitive intelligence methods and sources will be of paramount concern in determining whether the defense classification of OSS records must be continued. At the risk of oversimplification, "sources." can be defined as the origins of information and "methods" as the ways in which things are accom- plished. Often source s -a-H methods utZ. zze in particu ar progxams are essentially inseparable and cannot be considered in isolation. The Agency's declassification jurisdiction is limited to those records for which the OSS exercised exclusive or final original classification authority. If, as is likely, non-OSS documents are found in the OSS files, such documents should be tabbed or other- wise noted and eventually referred for declassification action to whatever agency exercises current security classification juris- diction over them. Similarly, classified materials which were received by the OSS from foreign governments or international bodies, with the express understanding that the information would be kept in confidence and that security protection be continued, should be noted for future action but must not be unilaterally declassified or down- graded. f v^U,7r.~ ~!- "./""PIED BY APT F,RO.'d G .Y.~R:.t. VCL!,S? rFICAr1 SCHEDULE QE . Q. it 1-:-:;: C.i IL( SB(I ) G!, i 31 ,': (w') ~?>,?. r: ?s. or mo (cnlees imposciLre, insert dote or event) GUIDELINES FOR DECLASSIFICATION OF OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES RECORDS it is determined that a document musT ~teitl^classitied, that It could be released provided that certain limited portions one or two personal names) were-excised, this fact should be noted on_.the wor et.--This guidance will enable National Archives reference pers one ._.ta__provide sane- _ ions of.. otherwisecl.assi- Nl1193B0119 Central Intelligence rhers...ansah -uld... b_e_. done, a1thau9"Qt__re-3uixed under the ovis~n_ s-.e-f--ExecutiveOrder--11452. Detailed Guidance: Named or Identifiable Individuals 1. OSS personnel identities should be protected only if it is known that they continued their association with US intelligence organi- zations or were otherwise involved in intelligence activities beyond Approved VorlWease 20 Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194RO01300100046-7 Approved EorWease 20~ 93BOl 19W001300100046-7 the date that the OSS was disbanded. If, however, an individual's affiliation with the OSS has been previously surfaced in open literature, no useful purpose would be served by continuing the classification of the document on the basis of his post-OSS in- telligence associations. Doc, ument;z~at_decias sified because OSS personnel are identified can be declassified. 40 -vearsaf lei the pub ication o t e ocument. 2. Cyg. , .agents1.__identities. even though it is not clear that they were witting of their OSS connections, should continue to be concealed unless it is known that they have voluntarily publicized their intelligence roles or were otherwise exposed beyond any reasonable doubt. If in doubt, do not declassify; protection of agent sources from compromise is fundamental to the continued effectiveness of an intelligence organization. Ideally, agent identities should never be revealed, but such action would be impractical in the real world. Adequate.pro_. tection canbeafforded them and their families if clQ umen s identifying them are w from declassification until_ __ ears~r "tfie publ~,c~ date of_tt-e-3ocument. If 3. The identities of yliaison, Q.f#ine.r.~--from _coop_erat_3ng foreign_intell~g or counterintelligence services should be protected from disclosure. Declassification of such matters re- quires the concurrence of the foreign government concerned. The I date that such documents can.be declassified is thus impossible to determine. 4. If a contact in a foreign government is identified as the source of information, his identity should be protected unless it is clear that he was consciously passing information to a member of the OSS in accordance with instructions from his superiors. If the document reveals a degree of collaboration between a foreigner and the OSS, the disclosure of which could be a source of,a ute embarrassment to him, its.classification_should-_be continued. Do not rul_ n or of declassification if any reasonable doubt exists. The declassification date for such documents should be 75 vears after the publication date. 5. The identities of US private citizens who had furnished information, or otherwise cooperated with, the OSS with the under- standing -- ~_ __ _-- standing that their role would be kept in confidence_should_-be accorded protection from public disclosure. In those instances where they are not identified by name, a judgment should be made as to whether the source description is specific enough to permit their identification. The date that such documents could be de- classified is,_7 ears_after the publication date. Approved For Release 20 P93BOl 194RO01 300100046-7 6 b ~11 fl ~j I N . Approved For%Mease 20 93B0119 001300100046-7 6. Individuals, particularly-US citizts, mentioned in investigative reports or similar records, the release of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy or a breach of confidence, should be protected from disclosure. Though covered also in the Freedom of Information Act, the need for protection in national security related documents justifies continued classifi- cation. Such documents could be'declassified.75 years after the document's publication date. 7. Any report containing information, the disclosure of which would place an identified or identifiable person in immediate jeopardy--whether covered by the foregoing categories or not--should, of course, continue to be classified. Such documents could be de- classified 75 years after the publication date. I Detailed Guidance: Intelligence Methods 1. Sensitive intelligence methods which must be afforded pro- tection beyond the 30-year mandatory review period include information concerning or revealing_ technis_ues of agent recruitment, nonofficial and other unconventional cover arrangements,. deception techniques, methods equ pmen temp oyed or covert commuc s, to nical surveillance devces and strategies, micro hoto ra_hzc methods and equipment, escape and evasion techniques, i.a., provided'that such met sod are -n`oessential yly Td ical to those universally employed by intelligence services and therefore widely known, or that advances in technology have not rendered such methods and supporting equipment entirely obsolete. Documents containing such information must remain classified as long as the methods are utilized in-operations,, and therefore it is impossib a to fix a date for automatic declassification. 2. Methods related-_t ?al+,and._oh~._su.port activities-- as oppose o intelligence collection and covert action techniques adapted to the particular operations and circumstances of World War II, do no them _e1V .u lif~_ -sensitive jau protection. 3. Information with respect to the internal organization of the\ OSS, the chain of command, component functional missions and personnel ceilings, and intercomponent working relationships has lost much of ' its sensitivity with the passage of time. Moreover, a considerable amount of this sort of information has already appeared in ope' literature. Documents dealing with the various cover organizations created..or.employed by the OSS, however, should continue to be classi- fied for 60 years after the publication date of the document. Detailed Guidance: Communications Intelligence and Crypto gra nhy 1. Communications intelligence, cryptography, and related activities must be provided with protection from premature dis- closurpepproved or ~2eeoasoegZUU71 ~I Fi~'- 09 66 1 r4 ~~f 06+ `fed 11 ON, : Li. L .. Approved For ease 2002/TTj1, 9 0119401300100046-7 their sensitive nature. Included are any data concerning or revealing .the processes, techniques, technical materiel and equipment, particular operations and overall scope of communications intelligence, and cryptographic security. The date for declassification of such infor- mation, being dependent upon the factor of obsolescence, is therefore impossible to predetermine. 2. Decrypted cables should be declassified on the basis of their subject matter content. Modern techniques of massive computer attack agsinst encryted intercepts of World War II systems are so effective that it must be assumed that any hostile intelligence service which decided to expend the effort to retrospectively process the data could have read the texts of cable messages. Detailed Guidance: Subject Matter Content 1. Classified information contained in OSS documents and other record media, regardless of the subject,' the origjn__of which can be clearly traced to another US Government agency, should not be de- classified unilaterally. Declassifying or downgrading action must await the decision of thz._-agency. exarci,sing-current-eclassi_fication author ty and therefore the date would be impossible to determine. 2. Classified information which was passed to the OSS by liaison representatives of forei-n intelligence or counterintelligence services and subsequently incorporated into OSS documents should not be declassi- fied unilaterally when it is apparent that this was the case. Declassi- fication of such material must await the concurrence of the foreign government concerned, and the date for declassification is therefore impossible to determine. 3. Any information which would probably adversely affect the conduct of present'day or future US foreign_po1jy or international. s cum it arrangements if disclosed should not be declassified without the prior concurrence of the Department of State and/or the Department of Defense, even though the document and the information contained therein is exclusively OSS?in origin. Declassification or downgrading action must await the decision of the competent agency, and therefore the date would be impossible to determine. 4. Biographic information of a nature that would be highly embarrassing or compromising to friendly or collaborating foreign nationals, the release of which would be likely to impair US re- lations with the nation involved, should not be disclosed. Documents containing such material should not be declassified until 60 years after the publication date. 5. With the passage of 30 years, the re ortoria and aualvtical content of the bulk of OSS documentation wil aye lost whatever sensi- tivity it once had. Illustrative of the subject matter which can be Approved For Release 200 19rl Q J `Q11 93B01I94R001300100046-7 Ji' ~ i NY_YG lh Approved ForlWease 2002/(~ j ~p j~93~01 19 ~~'IUO"~ 5=7 UU, readily declassified are: translations or summaries from the foreign press and radio broadcasts; prisoner interrogation reports; translations or summaries of captured enemy documents; statistical data or other purely factual reporting, with little or no attempt at predictive analysis; information dealing with conditions prevailing at a particular point in time, e.g., enemy order of battle, and thus highly perishable; and any information which has been extensively and accurately reported Approved For Release 200 Miab TfI ' f Approved For%Me sDROAFd8TCIA-RDP93B01194&001.300100046-7 GUIDELINES FOR DECLASSIFICATION AND RELEASE OF OFFICE. OF CENSORSHIP RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS The President of the United States has removed the "seal" formerly placed on Office of Censorship records and approved these guidelines. The Archivist of the United States shall implement these guidelines for the systematic review for declassification and r lease of regards. and documents originat&I by the Uorld War Il Office of Censorship, which have been accessioned. by the national Archives and Records Service Into the National Archives of the United States. Part A All national security-classified Information originated by the Office of Censorship Is automatically declassified except that information and r; terlal categorized under paragraphs 1, 2, or 3 of this part and determined by specialists of the named Departments-or agencies of primary subject- ... matter interest as requiring continued protection. Emphasis will be upon deci:assifIcation. National security Information and material requiring continued protection and exemption from declassification following review shall be listed in accordance with Section 5(E) of Executive Order 11G5Z and referred through the 'head of Department to the Archivist of the United Stes. Only national security information and material originate. by the Office of Censorship of the following categories may be exempted from disclosure under Section 562(b)(l) of Title a, United States Code (Freedcm of Information Act): 1. Information concerning communications intelligence or cryptography ,and their related activities. All such Information which night still be itiv.e will be referred to the National Security Agency for final deter- urination on declassification and release or the need for continued security protection. 2. Information of an intelligence methodological natur concerning secret writing and microphotography. All such Information which might still be sensitive will be referred to the Central Intelligence Agency for 3'inal determination on declassification and release or the need for continued . securi ty protection. 3. Info tion concerning foreign governmental censorship activities is disclosed by U.S. liaison with foreign censorship agendas not previously c;vaclassifted. All such information which might still be sensitive will be referred to the D :part nt of State for guidance and consul mo tion in dater- mining whether to declassify or whether the need for cantlnu'ad protection rxiats. . Approved For Release 2002/01/08 CIA-RDP93Bb11-94R001300100646-7 Approved ForWease 2002/01/08: CIA-RDP93B0119QO01300100046-7 DRAFT Part 3 Info ation in Office of Censorship intercept and similar files concerning individuals and organizations the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted Invasion of personal privacy (cf. Section 552(b)(w) of Title 5, United States Code) will normally be exempted from release until 50 calendar years after its origin. Such Information may be further defined as; l.. All information clearly identifying individuals or organizations whose communications were intercepted, were the object of surveillance or were of particular interest to the intelligence agencies of the United States or its All ies, including the following; a.. Originals, photocopies, or transcripts of Intercepted cocmcuni cations; b. Submission slips (extracts from Intercepted communications); C. Daily reports, also known as ' Dayreps" (Office of Censorship ?^ ssages.to stations providing background information on persons and organizations of interest to the Office of Censorship); d. Special watch instructions, also known as S'WIs (instruc-tions or supplemen4al information on particular persons, addresses, organizations, etc., whose con unlcatlons are to be intercepted); L'.? Watch lists/?lash lists (lists of persons, organizations, addresses, etc., with indicator of subject interest, whose corununications are o be Intercepted, including. proposed entries and deletions; '. White. lists (names of persons whose col,. , nications were to be bypassed without 'examination) including entries and deletions thereto; g. Border watch/flash lists (names of persons whose cor unications across the U.S. border.; were of particular interest to a local censorship station), -including entries and deletions thereto. 2. All information identifying individuals or organizations involved in. complaint;, or recom endations. about carrying out the specific provisions of the Code of Wartime Practices for the rlrr rican Press and 3roadcasters not previously wholly released. 3. All requests for information of the types described In Part 3 of these guidelines shall be referred to the Director,. Federal Preparedness Agency, GSA, for a determination as to whether that information can be roleased in whole or in part or should continue to be exempted from public disclosure. Approved For. Release 2002/01/08: CIA-RDP93B0'I 194R0013'00100046-7 Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194RO01300100046-7 2 Jul;; 1979 Classification Review Procedure CRP 79-32 and CRP 79-008/OSS GUIDELINES FOR THE REVIEW OF RECORDS FOR T11E PERIOD FRC11 IE END OF OSS TO TILE BEGINNING OF CIA October 1945 - Iff September 1947 BACKGROUND 0 On 20 September 1945 President Harry Truman signed an Executive Order breaking up the OSS as-of 1 October 1945 and directing the Secretary of State to take the lead in developing the program for a comprehensive and coordinated foreign intelligence system. The Research and Analysis (R&A) and Presentation Branches of the OSS went intact to the State Department. The remaining activities of the OSS (mostly clandestine services) were assigned to the War Department which was to keep them separate in the Strategic Services Unit (SSU) established by the Executive Order for that purpose and to keep those activities to serve as a nucleus for a possible central intelligence service. On 22 January 1946 President Truman issued a Presidential Directive which established the Central Intelligence Group (CIG) functioning directly under the National Intelligence Authority (NIA). The NIA consisted of representatives of the Secretaries of State, War and Navy and a personal representative of the President. The Director of CIG was appointed by the President. His duties included planning to coordinate departmental intel- ligence activities; recommending policies and objectives of the "national intelligence mission;" correlating and evaluating intelligence for strategic and national policy and disseminating it within the Government; performing functions related to intelligence as the President and NIA might direct; and performing services of common concern where those services could be performed more efficiently by a central organization. Significantly, the Director of CIG was not given the duty of directly collecting intelligence. The CIG was described as "a cooperative interdepartmental activity." Since the SSU had been expected only to serve an interim function, the Executive Order of 20 September 1945 directed the Secretary of War to discontinue the SSU as soon as its functions and facilities could be: 1) placed in a new central intelligence organization; 2) placed in the War Department; or 3) dropped entirely. General Magruder, Chief of the SSU, was to superintend the liquidation of those SSU activities to be dropped entirely during peacetime. On 29 January 1946 the Secretary of War directed that the SSU should be liquidated by 30 June 1940. The Director of CIG was to take what records he wanted from SSU through the Secretary of War and retain operational control over them. Title .o the records was to he settled later. Magruder felt.that SSU plans, properties and personnel must be maintained because they were indispens:rhle for the procurement of intelligence in peacetime. O 1 n 4 February 19a0 he urgcd that the SSU be placed under the Director of CIG. Approved For 'Release 2002/01/08: CIA-RDP9.3B01I 94RO01300100046-7 STATI NT N STATINTL is tie current chief 01 SSU and is authorized to conduct certain business for Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194RO01300100046-7 As there was some uispute over whether the Director of ClG should get the entire unit, an interdepartmental committee was organized under Colonel to study this question. The cornnit.tec found support for the opinion WMe SSU, as was, ought not go to the CM. 'I1ic conrnittee had heard that the bulk of intelligence information came from friendly-governments; that much material came from other sources than secret collection; that SSU personnel had not been adequately screened; and that nuiny clandestine personnel had become exposed during IVIt' II. 11ic committee thought that the SSU should be reorganized and the desired portion placed under the CIG as a "goi.ng concern." The committee thought that ClG should closely coordinat ine operations, concentrate on the USSR and the Satellites, penetrate iyinst~ y Institu- tions to aid possible U.S. military operations, develop liaison with foreign intelligence agencies and develop sleeper networks while overt collection of intelligence information should ain wI e o per U.S. Government agencies. The committee also rccogniz&d the interrelationship between the SSU and the Rf,A Branch (still located in the State Department) and urged that their activities be integrated because the R&A !}ranch was "closely geared to the secret intelligence branches as their chief guide." The committee also felt that the Director of CHI. should take authority and responsibility for liquidation of the Sal. On 3 April 1946 the final liquidation of SSU was postponed from 30 June 1946 to 30 June 1947. Meanwhile, the Chief of SSU was directed to instructions from the Director .of CIG. This made it possible for Assistant Director and Acting Chief of Operational Services of #,00 take over such SSU assets as the Director of CIG wanted while unwanted assets would be absorbed into the War Department or abandoned. The arrange- ments for the transfer of.,SSU to the CIG through the War Department were complicated but it enabled the CIG to take legally what it wanted while Magruder, Chief of the SSU, got rid of unwanted facilities through the War. Department. Although no specific legal action,was taken, the passage of time and the inferential approval of the National Security Act of 1947 appears to have vested title of SSI1 property to the CIG. In June 1946 General Vandenberg became the Director of CIG (replacing Admiral Souers). Vandenberg felt that the Director of CIG must be the NIA's executive officer and he immediately struck out to obtain greater authority and independence for the CIG. While his ideas met resistance from the member agencies of NIA, Vandenberg did win some points. For example, Vandenberg wanted the CIG to conduct all espionage and counter-espionage for the collec- tion of foreign intelligence abroad. This proposal was modified to allow the Director of CIG to conduct only those "organized federal" operations which were outside the U.S. and its possessions, but still left CIG with the authority to collect intelligence information. The purpose of the revision was to permit the military services to collect intelligence for departmental purposes and it was meant to protect the FBI in performing its duties within the U.S. Vandenberg then established the Office of Special Operations to collect foreign intelligence. During the seamier and fall of 1946, the CIG arranged to take over the personnel, undercover agents, and foreign stations of the SSU. By mid-October 1946 the liquidation of SSU was complete. (SSU as a bonafide organization never actually went out of husinctis. `Ihe C/IMS/!11X) Approved For elease:;2002/01/08 CIA-RDP93BO1194R001300100046-7 Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194R0b1300100046-7 and on behalf of SStI, Most SSII act ivit ice IinvuIye decking; out special requests from liX-SSU or OSS persOrutcl .) l ic.ld staticros were notified that effective 19 October 1946 "SSU discontinues all overseas activities and the Office of Special Operations of CIG assumes responsibility for conducting espionage and counterespionage in the field for collection of foreign intel- ligence information required for 'nat ionaI security. As noted above, the CIG takeover of the SSU stretched over a period of several months in 1946. During this period the CIG took over many of the personnel, installations, facilities and cover arrangements and units as well as administrative practices of the SS11. Thus you will find CIG, after 19 October 1946, using SSU cover unit designations and letterhead stationery from such units making it difficult to identify GIG documents from appearance alone. It could be argued that if the letterhead is SSU then it is an SSII document. Be that as it may, for general purposes in classification review consider all records created before 11) October 1946 as SSII and all records created after that date as CIG. should be reviewed as a CIG document using tile CIA gulde,111c.S. GUIDELINES For our general use in the classification review process, the date of 19 October 1946 will he considered the pivotal date marking the "end" of the SSU and the eginrning" of the CIG. Generally speaking, records dated prior to 19 October 1946 will be considered SSU documents and those created after that date will be considered CIG documents. The methods of orgarti:ation and operation used by the SSU were very similar to those developed and used by the OSS. The SSU was essentially a military unit, staffed mostly by military personnel and housed in the War Department under military correnand. It is therefore pertinent for us to review SSU documents under those guidelines developed for utd used in the classifi- cation review of OSS records. The CIG on the other hautd, very soon after its creation began to take on an independent life and although many CIG personnel continued to be military it quickly attracted more civilians and it was not under direct military conunand. We will, therefore, look at CIG document, as relating closely to the beginnings of the CIA and will review CIG documents under those guidelines developed for and used in the classification review of CIA records. As a general rule, the OSS review team will he responsible for reviewing documents originated before 19 October 1946 and the other (Rl) reviewers will be responsible for those documents it ginated after 19 October 1946. This date is not intended to be an absolute rule; as in all rcvie work, individual judgement must he used. For example, a document originated after 19 October 1946 might refer to the past and to activities or problems of the SSU making it in essence a more or less typical SSU document containing material relating to the SS11.. Such a document should be reviewed as being essentially -a SSU document and using the OSS guidelines to judge the classifi- cation action. On the other hand, a document originated before 19 October 1946 might refer to the future and-to activities or problems. relating to the (:1G making it in essence amore -or less typical CIG docLmtent. his type document Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93BOl194RO01300100046" Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194Rd01300100046-7 All reviewers should be especially alert for these types of documents and pay particular attention to their classification review. If there is any question, coordination should be effected between the CRI) Operations .Branch/OSS and the CRD Operations Branch/CIA through the Chief of the (RI) Operations Branch. The major categories of information which most likely will require continued protection are: 1) information which identifies sources; 2) foreign government information and details of intelligence agreements we had with foreign governments; 3) information revealing unique intelligence methods not generally known or used and not outdated; and 4) information which could still cause negative reactions that could impact adversely on current or future U.S. foreign relations. Some more specific guidelines are as follows: 1. Protect all sources to avoid creation of a reputation' that U.S. intelligence services cannot protect their sources. A rare exception to this rule might be possible where the contact was fleeting, incidental, insignificant and overt. 2. Identification as an SSU staffer will he judged and handled the same way as it is for an OSS staffer. Staffers generally will not he protected merely because they later worked for the CIG or the CIA. If however, the person engaged in sensitive work for CIG or the CIA, their SSU (and OSS) employment may he exenq)ted from declassification to protect the later sensitive work, :or position in the CI(. or the CIA. 3. Persons who served under non-official cover are protected at all times as is their cover. STATINTL Classification Review Division Approved For Release 2002/01/08 :CIA-RDP93BB 1 41 0013#I09 6 7 25X1A Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194RO01300100046-7 Approved For Release 2002/01/08 : CIA-RDP93B01194RO01300100046-7