20000A
104-10326-10018
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
SECRET
MHFNO: 98-0430861
SENSIND:
SECRET
PAGE:
1
FRI
STAFF
CONF: IMS/ESG
INFO: CE/R/IO, CIC/CEG, CIC/CEGEUR, CIC/CEGLA,
CIC/LA, CIC/OG, CIC/OGUCT, CIC/PRC, DC/EUR, DO/IRO, EUR/DCCI, EUR/SG,
EUR
/SGF, IMDORECORD, LA/FIG, LA/FIGSC, LA/MXG, LA/MXO, LA/MXSTB, LIMITED,
MDSX, ODPD, FILE, C/EUR, C/LA, CE/R, CE/R/XO, CIC/EUR (7/P)
98 0430861
SECRET
ASO
PAGE 001
TOT: 041406Z FEB 98
DIRECTOR 674771
STAFF
041407Z DIRECTOR 674771
TO: IMMEDIATE MOSCOW, PARIS, MEXICO CITY, BUENOS AIRES.
FROM: LIMITED DISSEM IMS/ESG INFO DO/IRO, CHIEF/LA, LA/FIG,
LA/FIGSC, CIC/LA, CIC/EUR, EUR/SG, EUR/SGF, CHIEF/EUR, DC/EUR,
C/CE/R/XO
SLUGS: WNINTEL
SUBJECT: CONTINUED PROTECTION OF COVER AS METHOD
REF:
TEXT:
NONE
*
1.
ACTION REQUIRED: NEED YOUR RESPONSE NLT 9 FEBRUARY, TO
MEET THE BOARD-IMPOSED DEADLINE.
2. THE JFK ASSASSINATION>RECORDS REVIEW BOARD (ARRB) IS A
PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED BOARD WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RELEASING
*ALL RECORDS RELATING TO THE <ASSASSINATION>OF<PRESIDENT KENNEDY>
WITH A VERY FEW LIMITED EXCEPTIONS. THE MOST RELEVANT EXCEPTION
FOR THE AGENCY IS WHERE THERE IS " '... CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE
THAT THE THREAT TO THE CONDUCT OF US INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES AND
FOREIGN RELATIONS OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST AND THAT
DISCLOSURE WOULD REVEAL AN INTELLIGENCE METHOD CURRENTLY UTILIZED
AND NOT OFFICIALLY DISCLOSED."
3. LAST WEEK, THE DDA AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE
FOR ADMINISTRATION WERE CALLED TO TESTIFY ON THE CONTINUED
WITHHOLDING OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD OFFICIALLY CONFIRM THAT CIA
UTILIZES STATE (INCLUDING SPECIFICALLY CONSULAR) COVER! THIS CASE
IS 
MADE DIFFICULT BY THE FACT THAT STATE COVER IS SO WIDELY
DISCUSSED IN THE PUBLIC MEDIA INCLUDING THE MANY BOOKS AUTHORED BY
FORMER CIA EMPLOYEES; HOWEVER, THE USG HAS NEVER OFFICIALLY
RELEASED THE FACT OF STATE COVER. ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE WAS BRIEFED
IN DEPTH, THE BOARD HAS REQUESTED ADDITIONAL CONCRETE DAMAGE
VIS-A-VIS THE COUNTRIES SPECIFIED IN THE DOCUMENTS AT
ISSUE--MOSCOW, PARIS, MEXICO CITY AND BUENOS AIRES.
4. ACCORDINGLY, WE NEED YOUR SPECIFIC ASSESSMENT OF THE
DAMAGE THAT COULD ARISE IF OFFICIAL USG DOCUMENTS WERE RELEASED
WHICH CONFIRMS-CAUSE OF STATE COVER. THAT DAMAGE COULD TAKE-THE-
FORM OF HARM OR INTERFERE WITH CURRENT DIPLOMATIC INTERESTS
SECRET
THE
13-00000
MHENO
98-0430861
SECRET
SENSIND:
FOLLOWING QUESTIONS MAY ASSIST IN THE FORMULATION OF YOUR
RESPONSE. OF COURSE, INPUT FROM STATE COLLEAGUES WOULD BE WELCOME
(AND IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT STATE FEELS VERY STRONGLY ON THIS
ISSUE AND HAS ALSO FILED A PERSONAL STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY OF
STATE)
(A). IF THE STATION IS UNDECLARED, WOULD THIS DISCLOSURE
LEAD TO CLOSER EMBASSY SCRUTINY OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH
OPERATIONS? GIVE EXAMPLES.
DESCRIBE
(B) OTHERWISE, IS CIA UNDER PRESSURE FROM THE HOST
GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE PRESENCE, OR MORE FULLY DECLARE PRESENCE, OR
UNDERTAKE NO UNDECLARED ACTIVITIES? DESCRIBE PRESENCE.
THOSE ACTIVITIES TO RESTRICT CIA (E.G. SERVICE TO SERVICE,
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES, OPPOSITION POLITICAL INITIATIVES, AND
MEDIA ACTIVITIES.)
(C) DESCRIBE SOME PARTICULAR ACTIVITIES WHICH COULD BE
IMPERILED?
(D) ARE THERE NEW INITIATIVES WITH THE HOST GOVERNMENT AND
SERVICE WHICH COULD BE IMPERILED (E.G., COUNTER-NARCOTICS WHERE
PREVIOUSLY NONE)? DESCRIBE.
(E) IS CIA PRESENCE INHERENTLY SENSITIVE
BECAUSE OF HOSTILE POPULATION ELEMENTS OR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES?
(F) IS THERE POSSIBILITY OF HOSTILE USE (E.G., RUSSIAN ON
CUBAN) TO DISCREDIT US EMBASSY AS A "NEST OF SPIES OR SIMILAR?
(G) HAVE THERE BEEN PAST IMBROGLIOS OVER CIA PRESENCE OR
ACTIVITIES THAT THIS RELEASE COULD RESURRECT?
(H) HAVE OFFICIAL USG RELEASES SUCH AS FOIA EVER APPEARED IN
THE LOCAL MEDIA (E.G., JAPAN AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING OR PERU AND
REFERRED
FOIA RELEASED CONCERNING VLADIMIRO MONTESINOS TORRES).
TO BY HOST GOVERNMENT EITHER ON THE RECORD OR OFF THE RECORD.
5. FILE: NONE. INDEX: NONE. CL BY:
1.5 (C), DECL ON: X1, DRV FROM: LOC 4-82.
CABLETYPE: GECO STAFF 4.0.1.>
RELNO: DORELS0100880721
2103140, CL REASON:
ORIG: IMS/ESG (KNUTSOM, 44596); AUTH: C/IMS/ESG (FREDRICK C.
WICKHAM); COORD:
CE/R, LA/MXO, LA/FIGSC, EUR/SGF, ;
DO/FRO REL C/IMS/ESG (FREDRICK_C______WICKHAM)~
INFO:
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