20000A
104-10326-10016
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
SECRET
MHENO
98-0480597
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FRP:
2,
STAFF
ACTION: IMS/ESG (021) INFO: CIC/CEG, CIC/CEGEUR, CIC/LA, CIC/OG, CIC/PRC,
DC/EUR, DO/IRO, EUR/DCCI, EUR/SG, EUR/SGF, 
IMDORECORD, LA/FIG, LA/FIGSC,
LA/LGL, LIMITED, MDSX, ODPD, ORMS/EUR, 
FILE, C/EUR, C/LA, CE/R, CE/R/XO,
CIC/EUR (7/W)
98 0480597
ASO
PAGE 001
TOR: 091712Z FEB 98
IN 0480597
PARI 17502
SECRET 0917172 FEB 98 STAFF
CITE PARIS 17502
TO:
IMMEDIATE DIRECTOR.
FOR: LIMITED DISSEM IMS/ESG INFO DO/IRO, CHIEF/EUR, DC/EUR,
CHIEF/LA, LA/FIG, LA/FIGSC, 
CIC/LA, EUR/SG,
C/CE/R/XO
CIC/EUR, EUR/SGF,
SLUGS: WNINTEL
*SUBJECT: <JFK ASSASSINATION>RECORDS REVIEW BOARD (ARRB): CONTINUED
PROTECTION OF COVER
REF:
DIRECTOR 674771 98 0430861
TEXT:
COMBINE: COMPLETE
1. ACTION REQUIRED: PLEASE ADVISE IF WE CAN BE OF FURTHER
ASSISTANCE
.
2. THE FOLLOWING ARE STATION RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS POSED REF:
IF THE STATION IS UNDECLARED WOULD THIS DISCLOSURE LEAD TO
CLOSER 
EMBASSY SCRUTINY OF 
OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH OPERATIONS?
A.
WERE THE ARRB RELEASES TO PROVIDE SPECIFIC AND
CONCRETE USE BY PARIS STATION OF STATE COVER, THIS MIGHT CALL FOR
FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON 
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES BY OUR (UNILATERAL
UNDECLARED OFFICERS UNDER 
STATE COVER BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING
FACTORS:
FRENCH INTELLIGENCE SERVICES ARE AWARE OF THE FACT
THAT WE HAVE USED 
OFFICIAL 
COVER HERE AND WILL ACT WHENEVER THEY
BELIEVE THAT WE ARE 
USING OFFICERS UNDER THAT COVER IN A MANNER
HARMFUL TO FRENCH INTERESTS
. WE TAKE PAINS TO ENSURE THAT THE FRENCH_
DO NOT SEE US AS A THREAT TO THEM 
LOCALLY
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS COVER COULD WELL PROVIDE TO POLITICIANS OR _
HOWEVER, OFFICIAL_
JOURNALISTS THE AMMUNITION WITH WHICH 
TO COMPELL AN INVESTIGATION OF
ZOUR_ACTIVITIES HERE ADDEES WILL RECALL THAT THE 1995 PARIS FLAPT,
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IN WHICH SIX STATION OFFICERS WERE REMOVED FROM PARIS, WAS DRIVEN IN
LARGE MEASURE BY AN UNSCRUPULOUS POLITICIAN LOOKING FOR HEADLINES,
INTEGRATED STATE COVER OF OUR SMALL GROUP OF
UNILATERAL OFFICERS IS AMONG THE STATION'S MOST EFFECTIVE MEANS OF
ACCESS TO NON-FRENCH TARGETS. OFFICIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OUR USE OF
OFFICIAL COVER IN PARIS COULD PROMPT THEM, OR THEIR RESPECTIVE
SECURITY OFFICERS, TO-REVIEW THEIR AMERICAN TARGETS
B. OTHERWISE IS THE CIA UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE HOST GOVERNMENT
TO REDUCE PRESENCE, OR MORE FULLY DECLARE PRESENCE, OR UNDERTAKE NO
UNDECLARED ACTIVITIES? DESCRIBE PRESENCE. DESCRIBE THOSE ACTIVITIES
TO RESTRICT THE CIA (E.G. SERVICE TO SERVICE, LEGISLATIVE
INITIATIVES, OPPOSITION POLITICAL INITIATIVES, AND MEDIA
ACTIVITIES.)
TO DATE, THE FRENCH HAVE NOT DEMANDED THE IDENTITIES
OF ALL STATION PERSONNEL; HOWEVER, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS
POSSIBILITY DUE TO OUR EXPECTATION THAT THE FRENCH MAY DECIDE TO
MIRROR ACTIONS OF OTHER EUROPEAN SERVICES WISHING TO RESTRICT CIA
PRESENCE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. ARRB DISCLOSURES WOULD SERVE
AS A POSSIBLE CATALYST FOR FORCING THIS ISSUE BETWEEN US AND THE
FRENCH.
C. DESCRIBE SOME PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD BE
IMPERILED?
UNILATERAL ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE STATION'S
UNDECLARED OFFICERS, OUT-OF-COUNTRY CASE OFFICERS AND NOC'S ARE
COMPARTMENTED AND CANNOT BE DISCUSSED IN THIS CHANNEL.
EUR/SG RE PROVISION OF SPECIFIC OPERATIONAL DETAILS.
WE DEFER TO
D. ARE THERE NEW INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND
SERVICE WHICH COULD BE IMPERILED? DESCRIBE.
FORWARD MOVEMENT ON OUR JOINT WORK WITH THE FRENCH
SERVICES, MOST IMPORTANTLY IN COUNTERTERRORISM, WAS SLOWED IN THE
YEAR FOLLOWING THE 1995 DEMARCHE. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, WE HAVE
SEEN SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE WILLINGNESS OF THE FRENCH SERVICES
TO RESUME ACTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE LIAISON. OF PARTICULAR NOTE ARE OUR
CURRENT JOINT COUNTERTERRORISM INITIATIVES, (E.G., SUPPORT FROM THE
FRENCH INTERNAL POLICE/INTELLIGENCE SERVICES, THE DST AND RG, OF
CTC'S 17 NOVEMBER TASK FORCE THROUGH TECHNICAL AND PHYSICAL
SURVEILLANCE OF 17N TARGETS LOCATED IN PARIS), AND AN IMPORTANT NEW
TO WORK
INITIATIVE WITH THE FRENCH EXTERNAL SERVICE, THE DGSE,
JOINTLY AGAINST RUSSIAN SVR INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS IN LOCATIONS WHERE
OUR COMBINED RESOURCES WOULD BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. QUESTIONS
RAISED IN THE PRESS OR WITHIN THESE SERVICES REGARDING THE
POSSIBILITY OF UNDECLARED UNILATERAL ACTIVITIES IN FRANCE WOULD PLACE
AT RISK THE CURRENT MOMENTUM WE HAVE WITH THE FRENCH SERVICES IN
THESE AREAS.
E.
IS CIA PRESENCE INHERENTLY SENSITIVE BECAUSE OF HOSTILE
POPULATION ELEMENTS OR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES?
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THE FRENCH PRESS IS GENERALLY NEGATIVE REGARDING ANY-
ASPECT OF CIA PRESENCE IN FRANCE. FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND
SERVICES, THE DISTINCTION THEY HAVE DRAWN IS BETWEEN UNILATERAL
OPERATIONS THAT TOUCH ON FRENCH AREAS OF INTEREST AND SOVEREIGNTY, IN
OTHER WORDS, THE ACTIVITIES OF OFFICERS UNDER STATE COVER AND/OR
NOC'S, AND THOSE JOINT AREAS OF OPERATIONAL ENGAGEMENT WHICH THE
FRENCH BELIEVE SERVE MUTUAL INTERESTS. AS WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY,
WHEN THE FRENCH DISCOVER THE FORMER, THEY TAKE QUICK INVESTIGATIVE
AND DIPLOMATIC ACTION TO CLOSE THESE OPERATIONS DOWN.
F. IS THERE POSSIBILITY OF HOSTILE USE (E.G. RUSSIAN OR CUBAN)
TO DISCREDIT US EMBASSY AS A "NEST OF SPIES" OR SIMILAR?
THIS IS A POSSIBILITY, BUT WE WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY HOSTILE
EXPLOITATION WOULD BE SEEN IN PRESS PLACEMENT/PROPAGANDA RE A "NEST
OF SPIES" VICE A DIPLOMATIC PROTEST. WE WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT SUCH
PRESS COVERAGE, IF UNSUBSTANTIATED, WOULD HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON
OUR SERVICE-TO-SERVICE OR GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. IF
SUCH PRESS EXPLOITATION BY HOSTILE SERVICES DREW ON SPECIFIC AND
CONCRETE EXAMPLES OF PARIS STATION'S USE OF STATE COVER, IT COULD
NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO SUSTAIN SOME UNILATERAL ACTIVITY DUE
TO A POSSIBLE INCREASE OF FRENCH SCRUTINY OF OUR OFFICERS (SEE
BELOW).
G. HAVE THERE BEEN PAST IMBROGLIOS OVER CIA PRESENCE OR
ACTIVITIES THAT THIS RELEASE COULD RESURRECT?
AS NOTED ABOVE, IN EARLY 1995 THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT DEMARCHED
THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE OVER INCOMPATIBLE ACTIVITIES OF A
STATION NOC AND SEVERAL UNDECLARED OFFICERS. THE FRENCH REVEALED
INVESTIGATIVE MATERIAL (INCLUDING THE RESULTS OF PHYSICAL AND
TECHNICAL SURVEILLANCE AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF OUR OFFICERS) THAT
BULWARKED THEIR CONTENTION THAT PARIS STATION WAS RUNNING UNILATERAL
OPERATIONS TARGETING FRENCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS BY
OFFICERS UNDER EMBASSY COVER AND NOC'S. THE FRENCH PRESS COVERAGE
WAS EXTENSIVE AND HOSTILE. BY THE TIME THE FRENCH CONCLUDED THEIR
SERIES OF DEMARCHES, THEY HAD INDICATED THEIR DESIRE FOR THE RECALL
OF SIX STATION OFFICERS.
WE HAVE GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO ENSURE THAT ANY/ALL UNILATERAL
ACTIVITY IN FRANCE IS CARRIED OUT UNDER STRINGENT OPERATIONAL
GUIDELINES TO PROTECT SUCH ACTIVITIES AGAINST FRENCH
COUNTER-ESPIONAGE CAPABILITIES. WHILE WE VIEW THIS AS AN ONGOING
REQUIREMENT, ANY PRESS OR SERVICE APPREHENSION REGARDING OUR
PRESENCE, SUCH AS COULD RESULT FROM ARRB TYPE RELEASES, COULD FORCE
US TO FURTHER RESTRICT OUR UNILATERAL OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS
SOMETHING WE WISH TO AVOID.
H. HAVE OFFICIAL USG RELEASES SUCH AS FOIA EVER APPEARED IN THE
LOCAL MEDIA (E.G., JAPAN AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING OR PERU AND FOIA
RELEASED CONCERNING VLADIMIRO MOTESINOS TORRES). REFERRED TO BY HOST
GOVERNMENT EITHER ON THE RECORD OR OFF THE RECORD.
CURRENT STATION PERSONNEL HAVE NO RECOLLECTION-OF-SUGH-
INCIDENTS IN THE RECENT PAST. WE DEFER TO HQS FOR ANY ADDITIONAL-
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
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3. PLEASE ADVISE IF WE CAN PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND.
FILE: NONE. DECL ON: X1; CL REASON: 1-5-(C)-;-CL-BY: 0707476
DRV HUM 4-82
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