MONTHLY REPORT--LONDON BUREAU--OCTOBER 1987
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
5
Document Creation Date:
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date:
June 19, 2012
Sequence Number:
7
Case Number:
Publication Date:
November 3, 1987
Content Type:
MEMO
File:
Attachment | Size |
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Body:
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- London Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
Chief, Operations Group
DATE
October 1987
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
C/MOD
3.
C/ESG
4.
5.
C/FED
6.
7.
C/ADD
9.
C/HED
10.
C/VAX-Comoro Section
12.
13.
I A.
15.
Return to C/MOD
FORM 61 O USE PREVIOUS
1-79 EDITIONS Gi'1 . 19P 411-1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
3 November 1987
MLD-7038
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
FROM Chief, FBIS London Bureau
THROUGH : Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT : Monthly Report -- London Bureau -- October 1987
1. BBC announced during the month that it will not be taking
delivery of the Honeywell automated system until June 1988, with
staff training beginning in the autumn of that year and full
operational capability not expected until April 1989. These
delays in the automated system will have repercussions on
renovation planning and the timing of moves to the new building.
One idea under consideration by the BBC is to begin the roof
renovation, requiring the FBIS engineers and chief editor to
move into quarters vacated by the BBC Administrative Staff, in
the winter of 1988 instead of in the final phases of the
renovation.
2. In another modernization setback, the BBC has been experiencing
serious difficulties with the Scientific Atlanta computer-driven
control system which would allow full use of the two 11-meter
dishes at Crowsley Park. BBC has now stopped making predictions
on when it will take operational control of the dishes or the
system.
3. The fiscal year got off to an inauspicious start with the dollar
reaching a 5-year low against the pound late in the month.
Gloomier forecasters are predicting that the dollar will drop to
$1.80 to the pound by the end of the calendar year.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. Bureau operations were disrupted the night of 15/16 October
when hurricane-force winds caused power outages at
Caversham and Crowsley Park. Back-up generator systems at
both sites failed, causing some lost coverage on the
midnight shift. BBC management has tasked its engineers
with adopting procedures to prevent a repetition of such
generator failures.
Bureau editors had a busy month with Gorbachev's active
reappearance following his long absence, a 3-day Afghan
party congress producing a 2 1/2-hour Najibullah speech
plus speeches by five lesser officials, and open-speaker
watches on Tehran Domestic Service in response to the
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
escalating situation in the Gulf. Coverage of the Gulf
situation was somewhat hampered from the 11th to the 19th
when line faults disrupted the main Tehran IRNA service and
the bureau had to rely on the slower IRNA HF service.
3. PMU also rose to the occasion with extended work hours to
cover urgent Pressfax material including reportage on
Gorbachev's active schedule, the CEMA and Supreme Soviet
sessions and Secretary of State Shultz's Moscow visit. The
unit had a scoop on the 22d when it picked up -- in the 23
October KRASNAYA ZVEZDA -- the first report on the deaths
of five Soviet generals in a 19 October helicopter crash.
An editorial shift log was instituted in PMU in mid-month
for distribution each morning to bureau management to keep
all more fully informed of significant PMU developments.
4. PMU assumed coverage of the Moscow APN Military Bulletin at
AG request and on 1 November will take over coverage of the
OMAN DAILY OBSERVER and 'UMAN, which are no longer
available in Amman.
5. Cologne Unit: The unit received congratulations from
Chief, Operations Group for its handling of the 15 October
Bundestag speeches by FRG Chancellor Kohl and Foreign
Minister Genscher.
B. Communications
1. Internet: The system was down from 11 to 21 October
because of a fault on the BMAC encoder. The fledgling
Nicosia Tehran tape program had to be diverted to
Washington, while London simply ceased sending for the
duration of the downtime.
2. The bureau communications center once again proved its
backstop capability when it protected all Austrian, Bureau
originated traffic (some 1,600 messages) from 29 September
through 16 October while Austria resolved a garbling
problem on its primary circuit. Then on 29 October, London
handled all urgent material for Headquarters via the
dedicated circuit when the Reston CPU failed for 3 hours.
3. The semi-annual traffic report, which fell due the week of
18-24 October, carried a record high daily average wordage
of 115,771.
C. Lateral Services
1. PMU filed a PRAVDA article on "Video: Present and Future"
VCX to the American Embassy in Moscow at the request of the
embassy's press section.
2. Hong Kong Bureau conveyed to London the USIS
representative's appreciation for PMU's translation of a 26
August IZVESTIYA article on U.S. arms to Taiwan.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
3. An urgent request from Ambassador Price's staff for an
interview with former NATO Commander Rogers in the Turkish
paper HURRIYET was passed to Nicosia Bureau, which was able
to meet a very short deadline and process the pertinent
part of the interview for the ambassador before he departed
post on TDY.
Personnel
Senior editor departed for Headquarters PCS on 9
speed up delivery of classified material between the bureau and
the Embassy -- IF she can arrange a flexible sitter service for
her toddler son.
entered on duty 26 October, a welcome development which will
New part-time administrative assistant/courier
Bureau associate editors
Tabulator Chief were presented Special Achievement
Awards with cash emolument for outstanding performances in their
respective fields.
Bureau drivers
Driving Awards tor their
the past year.
5. Teletype operator
service pin.
supervisor F
6. Bureau technician
9. Islamabad: Local FSN employee
following a short illness.
superior
received Safe
performances on the road over
was presented with a 20-year
s were passed to teletype shift
Joperators
and PMU media analyst
7. Teletype shift supervisor was declared fit for
duty on the 12th following a long recuperation from heart
surgery in mid-July.
8. Teletypist submitted her resignation effective 7
November to accompany her husband on a transfer out of the area.
A replacement has been placed in processing.
officers
Internet discussions.
To the bureau: editor en route
Headquarters Sovie~_analyst_ an
tours and briefings; ICCS Chief
to Tel Aviv PCS, and
the 13th for bureau
sat project
on the 27th for
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3
From ureau: Engineer and Communications Deputy 0 STAT
to Landsec House in London and Madley for talks with BTI STAT
STAT
cc: Chief, Austria Bureau
Chief, Cologne Unit
Chief, Islamabad Unit
Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/19: CIA-RDP94-00798R000200230007-3