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2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: I. Irving Davidson
SEGRET
FS-1247-74
31 July 1974
16.02.97
1. At 1000 hours on 31 July 1974, in compliance with instructions
from Mr. Halpern, I met with Nial Ainsley, Chief, Covert Procurement/OL,
relative to the Davidson matter. Ainsley read the Washington FO memo
regarding the subject and then called Billy Morgan and asked him to
join us. Morgan as Chief, Operations Support Branch, Supply Division/OL,
has the direct responsibility of funding for, receiving, and storing
items of the type that Davidson is seeking to peddle. After Morgan
read the Washington namo, a long discussion ensued from which the
following points emerged:
a. Per instructions from Mr. Colby, the CIA is
currently engaged in a dialogue with the DoD to
determine the mutual responsibilities of the CIA and
the DoD in future paramilitary operations. One of the
most important aspects of this matter is logistical
support. Although this has not yet been settled, the
assumption is that the CIA will continue to bear tha
major responsibility for procuring Soviet, Bloc, and
PRC arms and ammo to support paramilitary ops. This
has never been a mission of the three military services
and they have no capability for this type of acquisition.
(The principal CIA rep in these discussions with the
BoD is James Glarus, Deputy Chief, SOC.)
b. The CIA inventory of 7.62 Soviet anno has
been seriously depleted in the past year and, for
several months, Ainsley has been seeking to procure
up to 4 million rounds through different sources
without success. Each attempt to secure ammo involves
some security risk.
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CEORET
SUBJECT: I. Irving Davidson
FS-1247-74
e.
In view of this fact, Morgan offered the opinion
that from a logistical point of view it would be advantageous
to purchase the entire 25 million rounds from Davidson (at
a cost he estimated to be in the range of $3,125,000.00).
This would provide the Agency with a five-year supply and
eliminate the necessity for Ainsley running the security
gauntlet every few months to replenish the inventory.
d. Nevertheless, because of Davidson's unsavory
reputation and his close connection with columnist Jack
Anderson, it was generally agreed that hiu utilization
would be risky in the extrems.
2. Ainsley aogested that we run the problem by his boss,
Michal Kalanick, Chief, Office of Logistics. Accordingly we met with
Halanick and his Deputy, James McDonald. After a thorough rehash of the
matter, it was agreed that:
8. Morgan will confer with SOG and determine
the feasibility of taking the entire 25 million rounds.
b. Ainsley and Morgan will check with their
legitimate arms dealers and see if any of than have
ever heard of Davidson. If so, one of them will
approach hin and ask (innocently) if he knows of
any 7.62 amo available.
Co There is also a possibility that one of
Ainsley's regular contacts might have some idea as
to who Davidson's source is. In that case the source
will be approached directly and Davidson will be cut
out of the pattern.
d. DCD will instruct the Washington Field Office
to tell Davidson that there is no CIA interest in this
acquisition and bow out of this affair.
WILLIAM D. MATHER
Chief, Format Section
WIMather/pk
File: Services/Control
Chrono
SEGRET
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