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-4SfNATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE

WASHINGTON. D.C.

THE NRO STAFF July 12, 1974

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: USIB Meeting on Release of "Fact Of"

The USIB met on July 11 and the first item on the agenda

was a review of Mr. Colby's proposal to declassify the "fact

of" photo satellite reconnaissance. The following paragraphs

reflect my interpretation of what occurred at the meeting.

Mr. Colby introduced the issue by saying that there have

been numerous references in the press about satellite reconnaissance and in our open society it doesn't make sense to

maintain a secret which everyone knows about as a secret. He

said that last fall we moved out with "little feet" steps in

the decompartmentation decision and that it may be time now

to 'take another "little feet" decision for the declassification.

He believes that it is not proper to continue "holding the fig

leaf" any longer. Mr. Colby recognized, however, that there

were counter attitudes toward his proposal. He stated that

Mr. Plummer's opinion deserves the full recognition of the

USIB although the NRO security study recommended a go ahead

with the declassification. He completed his opening remarks

by saying that he desired a discussion at the meeting and

did not plan to come to a decision because he should check

with Mr. Plummer and others before coming to such a decision.

Mr. Singel volunteered a clarification of the security

committee's recommendation. He said that Mr. Colby may be

interpreting the recommendation to release the "fact of too

broadly and stated that the committee generally believed that

the political considerations might override any desire on the

part of the intelligence community to release the "fact of."

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Mr. Colby asked Mr. Denny of State for his position.

Mr. Denny said that the Department was not in favor of the

proposal and its desirability was not obvious. A release

of the "fact of might cause problems in debating the issue

of earth observation and State would like to leave things

the way they are. UN debates and resolutions would be made

more easily for the United States if countries desire to

affirm their sovereign rights and proprietary interests.

(Mr. Denny had told me before the meeting that his personal

position was not the position that he was directed to present

at the meeting. I learned subsequently that Under Secretary

of State Sisco had reversed the initial State Department

position which was in favor of Mr. Corby's proposal.) Mr. Colby

countered Mr. Denny's remarks by saying that the United States

needs to continue being vague about its space activities and

would do so even if the "fact of" were released. Mr. Singel

brought up the point that, with respect to ERTS, the United

States has made a commitment to release all acquired information to the public domain and would not be able to do so

with reconnaissance satellite photography. Mr. Colby agreed

that this was a correct statement.

Mr. Katz then read the Memorandum which Dr. rkle has

signed to Secretary Kissinger opposing the release of the

"fact of." Mr. Katz stressed the fact that there was no

international law about space reconnaissance and that if

the Russians knew precisely how good we were it could be

construed as espionage as opposed to observation. He finally

stated that if such a decision to release the "fact of" is

made then it should be recognized as an irreversible one.

Admiral dePoix then stated that although the proposal

had two edges, he personally believed that there was a net

advantage to be accrued from the release. His personal

feelings are that the intelligence community should take

the initiative and accomplish the release. He believes

that security can be maintained and that Secretary Kissinger

can make an announcement in a matter of fact way. Admiral

dePoix thinks that the release of the "fact of would permit

an ability to release to the public selected satellite

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photography which would be used to substantiate points being

made by the Secretary of Defense and others about the foreign

threat. He concluded his remarks by saying that we should

consider Joining up ERTS and reconnaissance satellites in

the international forum openly in order to substantiate the

United States freedom to use space.

General Allen opened his remarks by saying that the perspective away from the center of Washington seems to be different from that existing in councils such as USIB and in the

Pentagon. He believes that the field, such as Los Angeles

and Ft. Meade, would have a very difficult time living with

a release of the "fact of" as it is proposed. He thinks

that the existing policy creates a very favorable security

environment and that we never have been forced to deny the

existence of the reconnaissance satellite program. He questioned Mr. Colby on this point since it was stated in Mr. Colby's

proposal. He said that the advantage of the present security

is that it avoids unwanted discussion about the program. He

said that Air Force procurement, the industrial complex

and the NRO contractors are constrained by the present policy

from discussing the nature of the procurement activities and

that this policy works well. He believes that a move to

declassify would open a one way wedge in security. He then

went on to say that the definition of satellite reconnaissance

is a broad one and that satellite reconnaissance has been

acknowledged and is still being acknowledged very often. He

cited the fact that national technical means is associated

in almost everyone's mind with satellites and that satellite

reconnaissance per se, in the broad definition, is acknowledged

with the Meteorological Satellite Program, with DSP, and other

systems. He pointed out eally be asking

for an acknowledgement o nstead of the

"fact of itself. He ask ed to continue

restricting public discussion about the intelligence satellites.

He stated that we must continue to maintain the present policy

because we need the "blanket" it provides and that the present

policy has worked well for thirteen years now. He said that

we cannot be discrete between photo and SIGINT and that SIGINT

must be protected because of its vulnerability to information

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denial. He concluded his remarks by saying that he cannot

see a major change in policy, such as this, as accruing any

benefit whatsoever to the country and wondered why Mr. Colby

was pursuing this approach.

Mr. Collins, the Treasury Department representative,

stated that he was predisposed initially to back Mr. Colby's

proposal, however, on hearing the arguments he was now supportive of General Allen's arguments.

General Giller, AEC, stated that he believed the UN

context would not present a problem if the "fact of were

released and that he is concerned that the press will point

to this as being a foolish secret. He believes that Dr.

Teller's philosophy about openness is very important. Mr. Katz

interjected that disclosures for their own sake have never done

the nation a good service.

Mr. Colby then polled the Service representatives. The

Army representative stated that the Army generally goes along

with Admiral dePoix. The Navy representative said that security

provides a convenient shield with respect to foreign representatives but the Navy also has a strong intuitive feeling favoring

the release, so the Navy could be characterized as being 51 to

49 in favor. General Pustay then said that he was highly persuaded by General Allen, however, he wondered whether or not

there was too such caution being exerted now and he would agree

with the Navy in terms of the slight edge in favor of the

release. General Allen then stated that the present policy

works, and if we were to make a major change it might not work

and it should be remembered that as silly as the policy appears,

it is a clearly effective one.

The FBI representative said that what was really being

proposed was "to take the stamps off" photo satellite reconnaissance and with a little more freedom to discuss a lot

more freedom would be taken. He questioned the need for

relaxing the current discipline and said that he was in high

support of General Allen's argument.

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General Walters then stated that he was in support of

General Giller's argument and that we must consider the need

to. maintain , an as open a posture as possible. He would advocate the points made. by both Admiral dePoix and General

tiller. Mr. Singel then reiterated that the slippery slope

argument was extremely valid and that we should be extremely

cautious in pursuing this line without some means of containing

the slippery slope.

Mr. Colby then reiterated that he had not intended to

come to any conclusions at the meeting and appreciated all

of the arguments--pro and con. He said that he was impressed

with General Allen's arguments but that he must account for

Admiral dePoix' arguments because of the basic need to accommodate the open society. He said that he was getting tired

of having the CIA and the intelligence effort continually

"bob gobblined" about Government overthrowing and the like.

He concluded by saying that he will plan to discuss this issue

in the near future with Mr. Plummer and others before he decides

on any further action to be taken.

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Versions of "Fact of M/R

The last page of this M/R was retyped

because of a misunderstanding. The retyped

version (TAB A) went to Mr. Plummer Am

the Significant Items paper.

ants the MA to remain as it

rally prepared.
: •

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-61-NATIONALRECONNAISSANCEOFFICE

WASHINGTON. mc.

TMENROSPWF July 12, 1974

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD .

SUBJECT; USIB Meeting on Release of "Fact Of"

The USIB met on July 11 and the first item on the agenda

VAS a review of Mr. Colby's proposal to declassify the "feCt

of photo satellite reconnaissance. The following paragraphs

reflect my interpretation of what occurred at the- meeting.

Mr. Colby introduced the issue by saying that there have

been numerous references in the press about satellite reconnaissance and in our open society it doesn't make sense to.

maintain a secret which everyone knows about as secret.

said that last fall we moved out with "littlet-siter---- )sin

the decompartmentation decision and that it may be time now

to take another "little,..fr0 decision for the declassification.

He believes that it is no proper to continue "holding the fig

leaf" any longer. Mr. Colby recognized, however, that there

were counter attitude, toward his proposal. He stated that

14r. Plummer's opinion deserves the full recognition of the

USIB although the NRO security study recommended a go ahead

with the declassification. He completed his opening remarks

by saying that he desired a discussion at the meeting and

did not plan to come to a decision because he should check

with Mr. Plummer and others before coming to such a decision.

Mr. Singel volunteered a clarification of the security

committee's recommendation. He said that Mr. Colby may be

interpreting the recommendation'to release the "fact of" too

broadly and stated that the committee generally believed that

the political considerations might override any desire on the

. part of the intelligence community to release the "fact of."

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General Walters then stated that he was in support of

General Giller's argument and that we must consider the need

to maintain an as open a posture as possible. He would advocate the points made by both Admiral dePoix and General

Giller. Mr. Singel then reiterated that the slippery slope

argument was extremely valid and that we should be extremely

cautious in pursuing this line without some means of containing

the slippery slope.

A Mr. ColbysidanduiliimrneeXthat he had not intended to

come to any conclusions at the meeting and appreciated all

of the arguments--pro and con. He as impipsed a..n • with General Allen's argUmentspbutplea he must accountA or

Admiral dePoix arguments because of the basic need to accommodate the open society. iiiwasid-that-he-iies-seretug-tivw1

He essals41•44?-4eirker-eitate-ite-irka plans to discuss this issue

in the near future with Mr. Plummer and others before he decides

on any further action to be taken.

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