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Notes from Briefing of ARRB Staff on Stations
(11 October 1995 - ARRB conf. room)
CIA Attendees: Bill McNair
Lee Carle
John Goins
Chuck Briggs
Hal Bean
Barry Harrelson
Bill re Stations:
--
the
No problem with release of COS, fact we have overseas
locations, CIA representatives in specific countries
problem comes with officially acknowledging the stations
thereby putting the host government and service in a
position of explaining why it is allowing a foreign
espionage unit to operate in the country. This may become a
serious political issue for the government, especially in
countries where the government does not acknowledge its own
service. Also can be perceived as “rubbing their nose in
it” and can effect the trust between the Agency and the host
service (violated agreement of confidentially).
Marwell pointed out that this information was 30 years old
and ask what was the impact of acknowledging a station
presence in 1963 on current operations or relations.
Bill responded “opened up old sores” and cited Rome and the
sensitivity to our involvement in past election. Mentioned
the reaction to the announcement on covert actions by DCI.
Gunn ask if stations
==
liaison relationship; Bill said the
other service can not say it did not know the CIA was
operation in its own country would look incompetent.
--
Mary ask about changes in government; Bill responded that
intell types tend to stay own or its revolving door where a
good will be back in power at some point.
Bill comments on specific stations
It important to the story such as Mexico City and the
surrounding stations which were involved in the cable
exchanges re Oswald, then will release.
“Don't take it away from us for little or no gain to the
story”, I. e. if not critical to the story let us protect.
He indicated he could live with opening the stations for
short windows if important to story, but also said it
created a problem about protecting other activities in that
window
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Moscow
opened for Oswald windows
Rome No, past elections issue and current narcotics
projects
Delhi
-
No, counter narcotics projects
Madrid Liaison relationships have been up and down; (PNGed
five officers) can't afford any more flaps
Rabat
-
long time relationship w/ head of state; could give
anti-government labor unions an issue (however, would
not “fall on my sword" for this one.
Helsinki and Stockholm
--
would go to DCI with request to
appeal (governments currently under fire for cooperation
with US/very sensitive operation under way
--
Marwell ask about substitute language: Scandinavia, Northern
Europe Bill responded with Western Europe/ said southern
Europe for Rome, Madrid etc. “ok”.
London: do not want to acknowledge but could live with
Australia
-
very sensitive
Berlin is open in 1955; 1963 (?) Bill may have been having
second thoughts about previous statement "to release", but I
think it still stands there was a discussion of why
Berlin important to story.
--
Mary ask about other European stations, Bombay and some
South American stations
Bill did not have specific on other stations but made a
couple of comments
Bonn and Hague
-
-
no problem
Brussels very sensitive to any mention of intelligence
service presence
Would get back to them on other stations
[I promised Bill a list of the Stations]
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Other issues discussed
Crypts other than LIs and AMS there was a discussion re
deleting digraph and letting rest of crypt; everyone seemed
receptive, but no decision.
Bill mentioned Iranian takeover as good example of damage
caused by release of documents with crypts, file #s, etc.
Gunn ask if there was an internal “damage” study prepared.
Bill said he would check.
Marwell rejected the approach of the Agency having the
opportunity to discuss Board actions before official
notification. If we have evidence, need to present upfront,
not come back with additional evidence after the decision.
The balancing of public interest vs Agency needs came up
several times; Marwell commented that even if a document or
item is not important to the Oswald story, the Agency must
still defend.
Bill stated several timed during the meeting "If important
to the story, we can live with release”.
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Barry
12 October 1995