CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A001700240037-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 18, 2001
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: October 11, 1956
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/01/2"
-04718A001700240037-9
orT 1955
ORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director (Support)
SUBJECT: Code of Conduct for Prisoners of War
REFERENCE: Memorandum from ADD/S to 13/Peras,
dated 8 September 1955, subject same
as above
1. Referenced memorandum transmitted to this Office
certain background material on the Code of Conduct for members
of the United States Armed Forces as proposed by the Secretary
of Defense and approved by the President. That memorandum also
directed that I work out a recommended Agency policy statement
on that subject with the Deputy Director (Plans) and other offices
of interest.
Z. A conference was convened on 4 October 1955 with the
individuals concurring hereto in attendance. The present Code
of Conduct for members of the Armed Forces was reviewed in
some detail and the various conditions peculiar to Agency opera-
tions were compared with conditions existing in the Armed Forces.
This group agrees with the feeling expressed by the ADD/S
F+... that the Agency cannot adopt the language of the Code as
is.... ti
3. The DD/ P, specifically the in con- 25X1 A
junction with the CI Staff and the Office of Security, and the Office of
Training are still engaged in the collection of detailed factual data on
this subject through intensive debriefings of returnees from Commu-
control and study of interrogation techniques, lines of question-
ing, etc. , employed against persons sst4sspected of of?iltati4ln 4th the
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.f%11r,.
 Approved For Release 2002/01-718A001700240037-9
American Intelligence Service. It is the feeling of the group
convened that until these debriefings can be thoroughly analysed,
ould be premature for the Agency to attempt to announce
principles of conduct or to establish special courses of training
directed toward such principles of conduct.
4. However, it is the opinion of the group that certain
principles of conduct will be found to be basic, regardless of
the particular circumstances attendant upon the detention of
any given individual. They are:
a. No employee will take an undue risk
of capture except as directed by a competent
supervisor.
b. An employee will take every possible
action to evade or avoid capture.
c. If captured, an employee will use
every means at his disposal to avoid giving
any information of value to the enemy.
d. The Agency will not admit as its ,
ployee any person captured by the enemy.
e. The Agency will exert every possible
effort to obtain the release of captured persons.
5. It became apparent to the group convened that the Office
of Training would play a major role in indoctrinating Agency
personnel in these principles of conduct in order that they may
be prepared to meet this new condition to which they might
possibly become exposed. That Office and other offices of
possible Interest will be asked to meet with the group In sub-
sequent sessions on this subject.
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6. We shall bring this matter to a conclusion as early
as possible.
HARRISON G. REYNOLDS
Director of Personnel
SIGNED
Inaspeetor General
SMC`ll
Office of Security
~ A y?"
Approved For Release Luu -RDP78-04718A001700240037-9