INTERROGATION TECHNIQUES OF UNFRIENDLY COUNTRIES

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00184375
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 21, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: February 24, 1949

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Chief, Security Branch
Security Research Section
21 February 1919
Interrogation Techniques of Unfriendly Countries
During the wask of Jfinuary 1G - 22, 1210, a 3rit1sh Roman Catholic
weakly called the "Tablet", published an article in which they. claimed
that the nungarian Communists planned to use "actedron", a will-destroying
drug, on Cardinal Mindszenty at the time of his trial on charges of high
treason. The article in the "Tablet" said that it is common knowledge that
political prisoners of Soviet-occupied countries are given the drug after
.being starved and deprived of water. it first, it produces self-confidence,
then a reaction which includes a strong headache and vertigo, according to
the article. The latter effects are described as a sense of uncertainty,
a blind urge to obey tho slightest orders and inability to say no to any thing.
In this country, it was later discovered that "actedron" is a trnde
neme for the drug we know as bonzedrine (or amphetamine sulfate).
Altnough no trace of the use of benzedrine for interrogation purposes
in the United Staten can be found, it has been the contention of this office
for some time that the drug has strong possibilities for the extraction of
information during an interrogation. The drug, benzedrine, administered in
sufficiently large doses, acts as a steong stimulant nnd makes the subject
over-confident, undiscriminating and somewhat lacking in inhibitiona (pro-
vided the subject is allowed no phyeical outlet for his newly acquired energy
other than convereation). It is durinT, this period that it is felt that a
great deal of information could be elicited which ordinarily would not be
obtainable.
It is further felt that there is also nOOthor strong interrogation possi-
bility in the use of benzedrine beside the "benzedrine acceleration" period
mentioned above. Following the termination of the stimulation effect of a
large dose of benzedrine or a series of small dose�, there is a period of
physical exhaustion and mental depression. This is caused by the additional
demand placed on the body by the drug and by the absence of sufficient fuel,
in the form of food, to support the body at the high peak of activity which
is always present when one is under the influence of the drug (benzedrine
completely nullifies the person's appetite while under its influence).. During
this state of depression, it is fclt that the subject, in his despair, would
break down and give out much information which meld otherwise be withheld.
The above mentioned possible uses of the drug explain a Load portion of ,
tte materiel in the "Tablet's" article. The laLter effects, described by the
"Tablet" as a blind urge to obey the slightest orders and inability to sly no
to anything, cannot he expininod by may of the physical or mental effects of
either the "benzedrine acceleration" period or the following "mental depression"
period. For this reason, other techniques must be used in conjunction with the
administering of benzedrine to produce,the other mentioned conditions.
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Chief, Security Branch 24 February 1949
Although it is felt that those letter errects could not be produced
be benzedrine, it has been the opinion of this office that the "benzedrine
depression" phase- of the drug could be utilized very readily to produce a
state of "subconoious isolation" or "hypnotic state" in which there mould
be a blind urge to obey the slightest orders and en inability to say no to
eeythinge as mentioned in tee article.
In the case' of Cardinal Vindszontyls trial, oertnin alniFsions of guilt
were consistently made over -a period of (Joys which would indicate that a
condition existed during which the Cardinal was continually under the influence
of some unknown force, and not for merely cperiod of e fcr. hours ae would be
the case with the utilisation of the "benzedrine depression" phase. The pro-
duction of this "benzedrine depression" phase could be caused to recur periodi-
cally but the subject would first have to. be given new doses of benzedrine
which would produce acceleration before the desired depression. if this mere
the case, the Cardinal's testimony would be very inconsistent'becnuse of the
opposite mental state which would be present during the two different psycho-
logical phases. For this rensen, it is felt that some additional technique
VMS used on Cerdinel landszenty in conjunction with, or independent of, the
administering of the drug, benzedrine.
Every indication, from what information can be obtained, points to the
ract that the Cardinal was laboring under a prolonged influence of the type
which can be produced only by techniques similar to, or the same as, the various
methods of subdoncious isolation known to this office. This being the COBO, the
Cardinal could, and would, make consistent partial admissions as he did through-
out his trial. Prior to his apprehension, ha had made statements to the effect
that a. confession, to any degree, elicited from him would be obtained through
technical methods over which he had no control.
From the information obteined in the "Tablet" article which says that it
is common knowledge that political prisoners of Soviet-occupied countries are
given interrogation drues, and from other sources of information - inadequate
as they are, it is obvious that Soviet-occupied countries are, to some extent,
using drugs to extract information during the interrogntion of their prisoners.
From conclusions that can be dram from information available, there is a strong
-indication that these countries my be further advanced than we mieht care to
believe in the use of such techniques as the use of benzedrinc (for the pro- .
ducing of benzedrine acceleration and depression), sodium pontothal (the so-called
"truth serum"), ecientific duress (third de:rce techniques) and the use of
various doerees of hypnotic suegeation. Skillfully administered, any of the
above mentioned tochnieucs could prove to be edventneeous to unfriendly coun-
-eries, and extremely hermful to the efforts of tee otheeparte involved. It
would apponr that each CIe employee exposed to the ponnible use of those tech-
niques, beceuse of oeersone ansieneents, should be eon informed 93 to his
deuree of susceptibility, to tee various procedures and as to how ho might meog.
nize the attempted use of each process.
Chief, Security eraneh
24 February 1949
� Fortunately, all persons are not equally museoptnle to the various
intorroF:ntion techniques mentioned. The use of benzedrine does not success-
fully ceuse the desired reaction in all persons. The use of tat, truth serum
is .successful in between 60% and 75% of all oases where used (exact statistics
are not obtainable).- The use of the lie detector is successful in approximately
077; of the cases where used, subconcious isolation (utilizing induced hypnosis
without the assistance of drugs) is successful in npproximnte3y 25;:. of the cases
involving iti attempted use. Subooncious isolation (utilizin!; induced hypnosis
In conjunction with drugs) is successful in 6101;'1 to 90. of all cases involving
its attempted use.
It is possible, through the facilities of this office, end the utilization
of subconcious isolation, to comdition many persons in such a manner that they
are completely unsusceptible or only'partially susceptible to a technique to
which they were previously vulnerable.
In conjunction with the abo7o, it is sugrestod thrt t pro7am be initiated
which would serve to inform el applicable employee as to his susceptibility to
the various intarroatiori techniques, to instruct him before his departure con-
cerninr the reoognitior uf the attempted uses, no to what counter measures he
might take to nullify the success or such an attempt, and if desired, condition
him so that he will no longer be susceptible to the various unfriendly interro-
gation techniques to which ha mint be exposed.
It is further 3w7:estei that a collection requirement be issued so that
this office might be the recipient of nll nvniltble information concerning the
� interro7,atien techniques nder actual use or research by unfriendly countries.
Ry tcquirinr. such information, this office can at least keep abreast to or
possibly surpass those interrogation technives.
Agensiiit
1mb
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