LETTER TO HONORABLE STUART SYMINGTON, CHAIRMAN FROM DAVID M ABSHIRE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000200060002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 25, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: LETTER

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D RAF T
PM:JJWolf:X22478
SECRET
Honorable Stuart Symington, Chairman
Subcommittee on US Security
Agreements and Commitments Abroad
United States Senate
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your
letter of July 7th requesting certain information
relating to the agreements or arrangements we have
with foreign governments and treaty organizations for
the exchange of classified information and intelligence.
Inasmuch as arrangements for the exchange of
intelligence involve matters of extreme sensitivity,
I have asked the Director of Central Intelligence to
discuss threse points with you separately on behalf of
the Executive Branch,
The following responses, therefore, concern themselves
only with classified information.
Question 1: With what foreign governments
does the United States have an agreement or
arrangement under which we provide that
government with classified information and/
or intelligence?
Classified information is provided to foreign governments
when to do so will result in a net advantage to the
interests of the United States, taking into account the
measures that will be taken to safeguard the information,
and provided that furnishing the information will be
DOS, DOE review(s) completed. SECRET
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consistent with the foreign policy and the defense
interests of the United States, and otherwise consonant
with any applicable laws or procedures. For the most
part, decisions to provide classified information to
foreign governments are taken as a matter of policy
when such action is in support of policy objectives
which call for common understanding by the governments
involved on matters of common concern, rather than
stemming from specific agreements or arrangements. DOS
25X6
In the field of military application of atomic energy
information, agreements authorize the exchange of such
information
among t e
parties to the North Atlantic Treaty, and with the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization, pursuant to
Section 144 (b) and (c) of the Atomic Energy Act, as
amended. %
There are a large number of "Data Exchange Agreements",
primarily with friendly industrially advanced governments,
providing for the exchange of classified information
on specific projects connected with the research,
development, production or maintenance of classified
military equipment. These agreements, entered into
between Ministries of Defense, normally concern themselves
with a specific project related to a specified item of
military equipment. A list of the countries with which
we currently have such agreements is at enclosure DOS
Separate agreements and arrangements provide for the 25X6
protection of classified information exchanged. General
security agreements have been entered into with
~~0~.^ SPCC iti~. ;~c cur-
may ariangeaienLs
may cover security procedures for exchanges with other
countries or special arrangements applicable to specific
cases.
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3 DOS
Apart from classified military information, it should
be noted that the conduct of business between governments
is normally a private matter. Negotiations are by their
very nature confidential. The process of intercourse
between governments, therefore, normally deals with
exchanges which are classified, as well as frequently
concerning themselves with classified subjects.
Various international agreements, both bilateral and
multilateral, callkfor consultation among the parties
thereto on the subject of the basic agreement. Such
consultation may involve the exchange of classified
information.
Question 2: What kind of information and/
or intelligence do we receive in return?
While we have certain agreements to exchange classified
information in return for the same kind or other kinds
of information, such as the agreements between the
parties to the North Atlantic Treaty for cooperation
regarding atomic information, most often US classified
information is provided, as noted above, not on a quid
pro quo basis, but rather on the basis that its provision
will be to the net advantage of the United States. For
example, if it is determined that it is in the overall
security interest of the United States to make available
military equipment with classified components to a
friendly country in order to improve that country's
capability for independent and collective self-defense,
the receipt of classified information by the United
States in return thereof would not be a relevant factor.
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As another example, the provision of classified
information consisting of a political evaluation as to
the significance of the developments in a certain area
of the world might be provided because of the desire
to develop a common understanding of the significance
of such events. Of course, the provision of such
information would have the added advantage of tending
to make more likely the reciprocal provision of similar
evaluations or other information by the other government
concerned.
Question 3: How and where is this information
and/or intelligence received or exchanged?
The exchange of classified information between governments,
or between governments and representatives of inter-
national organizations, normally take place in Washington
and in other friencIly capitals, or at the appropriate
headquarters of the international organizations concerned.
Such information may be exchanged orally, or in writing,
as the case may be.
Question 4: What security classification
does the information and/or intelligence
involve in each case?
The classification involved in each case will vary, DOS
depending upon the subject matter -- and therefore the 25X6
classification -- of the item of information concerned.
For example, pursuant to the agreement under Section 144 (c)
of the Atomic Energy Act as amended
Under other arrangements, an as
part of normal interc between aovernments classified
information exchanged Iinvolves 25X6
TOP SECRET, SECRET and CONFIDENTIAL, as e case may be.
Similarly, while all NATO military planning is classified
Cosmic Top Secret, and the atomic aspects thereof have DOS
even more special. handling, information exchanged
between this government and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization and its members on a continuing basis,
both of a military and a non-military nature, may
i 1 an togories of security classification.
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Question 5: What is the nature of the
agrement we have with the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization under which we-provide
classified information and/or intelligence?
In addition to matters previously referred to, classified
military information is provided as part of our
participation in NATO defense planning undertaken
pursuant to Article III of the North Atlantic Treaty,
and in accordance with political directives issued by
the North Atlantic Council. Security controls safe-
guarding the information thus provided appear in various-
agreements.
The report of the Committee of Three on Non-Military
Cooperation in NATO, approved by the North Atlantic
Council on December 13, 1956, sets forth the policy
governing political consultation in the North Atlantic
framework. Pursuant thereto, information of_a classified
but non-military nature is exchanged with the members of
NATO and with the Organization on a continuing basis.
Question 6: With what other treaty organizations
do we have an agreement or arrangement under
which we provide classified information and/
or intelligence?
Article V of the SEATO treaty constitutes the obligation
for "consultation with regard to military and any other
planning as the situation obtaining in the 'Treaty Area
may from time to time require." Pursuant thereto,
classified military information is exchanged as appropriate
on a continuing basis and classified information of a
political nature is presented at the annual Council
meeting and at the monthly meetings of the Council DOS
Representatives. Classified information is likewise
provided by the United States to the Inter-American 25X6
Defense Board and to the Central Treaty Organization on
a more limited basis.
Sincerely yours,
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David M Abshire