¥Or SEC~T~Wef644 e ~ SE~ ~K 'Q',S, ERS 9lt.b¥ FINAL 

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SUBJECT NUMBER . PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

USCIB: 29.17/2 Item 4 of the Agenda for the lOl.l:ltME!f!ting of USCIB, 

held on 12 March 1954. 

Subject: ~~ ~~~~~)nts with Third/Parties] I. 

THE CHAIRMAN recalled that this problemJia.d /been. discussed \in 

executive session at the last meeting, and .a$ked' General Can.ine if he 

wished to present further information. 

GENERAL CANINE stated that there was two facets to his probJ.em, 

the first of which concerns his specific reply to the British.\ Providing background information,, he recalle.d .that /in l · l the B t 

r osed that USCIB ee to the 

and that USCIB had voted to disapprove the request on 12 October 

1951. The most recent request, he .said which was received in \late 

December l asks USCIB a; rova.l. of an 

and the .U.K •. /He poi~t that these requests L..p_ar_a......,,..e-=1,---c-=-1-os-e-:ly:---0-ur.... requests/ concerning L__J which were tabled with 

the British some three t go. He/expressed his opinion that we 

will not get a rep until ve have replied to the British 

request concerni n , accordingly, moved that the Boa.rd approve 

the request (r now before it. 

MR. SHELDON seconded the motion. 

GENERAL CANINE went on to po~nt out that he will never be able to 

satisfy some of the reguirementa /of the consumers until he can receive 

intercept fro:mi ~ 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR read paragraphs 5 and 6 of Appendix. "P" which 

indicate limitations on such negotiations with third parties. 

THE CHAIRMAN asked if" it would not be best to be perfectly""'f"""""'==---

t ib i ne val of the 

cases. He said he would agree to sign a letter to "--..-Tir-ma--n-,--=rs~IB, on the subject if the content of such a letter would 

have approval of the Department of State. 

MR. ARMS'mONG suggested that the matter be put squarely to 

Brigadier Tiltman and, through him, make arrangements for simultaneous 

action on the two problems. 

uscm: 29.17 /2 - 8 -

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 10-21-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
i%£O 3 . 3 ( h) ( 2 ) 

f!RL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

USCIB: 29.17/2 

This suggestion was acceptable, and Gen~~AliC$rlfne agreed to 

discuss the matter with Brigadier Tilt•n a"(; t.he 8e.ml:! \time that he 

informs him o:f the Board's decision on the Viet )finh problem. 

GENERAL CANINE then brought .up the )le~ond. :facet pf\ this problem. 

He asked that the Board cons ..i· der whe.· t.·/·h.e···.··.·····•·.• .. r.•w. / s. ho .. ul./ d.· dep .... end·. lll> .. ·.on the 

British to supply 1; with ip,:tormt.·i.·o.·n ... ·.·.·.•.onl.· ./ .· i .· L .. ·o.r go .. ·· .. :l.n .. tol·. I on 

our own as we did it1 !· He added tba.t by going :tn ours.elves we 

might disturb our relations with. the .. British but, •on the \other hand, 

we will probably stand to gain mre .. COM.INT by• such action., 

mtio~hi:1:!f asked u r~~ /not ~are/ ca~able of' providing \inforGEN.ERAL CANINE replied.af'firmative;l.y, 13j;A.t:Jng tba.t we l:Jc!.ve • 

received some very fine intormatio :rrom tnel~ • · •. •... X including 

~~th=e=--=b~ul==k~o=:r:......;w~ha~t·we~~kn~.,.~b'll'illl~:!!f!!l!~..,..._.,..,.... ....... ....,........,....---~~,......~~....,....~...l It was his/ opinion that the have the greatest 

degree o:r COMINT sophistication of all the countries. 

TEE ~ .. i .·.·.·· .. ·.· .·· · .· •• •it we would······iibe pr ...... /ep······a.red in princi:p·· .. le to let the British go intoL____Jwith us. 

GENERAL.CNfINEreplied that the Briti$h are already there under a 

U.K.~ / {arrangement o:r long standing, ma.de by Brigadier Tiltma.n 

during t~ W8.17/•u1d maintained on.•an unde ... re .• over basis. He a.d. ded that 

the U. K. l_ / Jrelations are o:f a more recent vintage and came into 

being ;t.bou.·t/the time that we we ..• re attempt.·ing to line up wit.h·. the I Jon .. the basis of al • tto .. u.S.-Navy approach. He 

explained that our attempted negotiatons came to a sudden end when the 

IBritisi:rc:::~!~s':8' at Board level, a request for approval of U.K.-

GENERAL !IRUDEAU inf'orme··· • ·d tj membf s that he was worki!J( 1 nfarma.ll.y on an approach made by the , through the USMA inl ~,..,......--.... for exchange o:r various types o:f high-grade intelligence including 

COMINT. 

GENERAL SAMFC!tD asked if it is the view of the Board that the 

::~mte ob 1ectiye ot r U .s. policy is to accomplish COMINT agreements 

On the basis of the discussion, THE CHAIRMAN replied that all 

members appear to be in agreement with such action as an ultimate objective j however, he said that he bad some misgivings a.bout the use of the 

word ":f'orma.111 , and that we may have to consider arrangements of an 

informal nature. 

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USCIB: 29.17/2 

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PL. 86-36/50 USC 3605 

In a brief' discussion on the effect that such agl:'ee.ments may have 

on UKUSA relations TBE CHAmMAN asked ii' the~e/is./a. p()s&Jibility of 

Joining with the Brriah to accoJcJ..iah, o.·n .... ··a.· /bi····la··/ ··tera.···1 ..... ·• •... l>·.·.a·.· .... \· .... sis, CO··.MI.. NT agreements with the countries. 

MR .ARMS'IRONG stated his view tbatpossibJ.e deterioration of our 

relations with the British by taking/i;n.d.ependent action. is a ne.tter\to 

be seriously considered. He suggested that./ we may n()w he\ at a point 

where it will be profitable to sit with the British at a :l\'airJ.y high level to discuss the proper handling of t.he whole I .... __________ ___, He said that be believes resentment would inevi tabl..v • run b:Lgh if' we 

were to tell the British to so ahead with thel n and then put them 

on notice that we intend to conpete wii;h them, and added tba.t such 

~~;e:::ie ~01~~ weJ 1 ,t'fect our success in other pa.rts ••• of•. the world -

The members discussed Mr. Armstrong's proposal and·· Ye'X"e :in agree·-

ment that it offered a possible solution to the many aspects\ of the 

I V It was ultimately agreed that, rather . than 

reply to the British request at/this time, as agreed earlier, the 

Director, NSA, will discuss theprobl.em informally with U.K. authorities, either here or in London, to · a 

r osal t 

e scussed between U.S. and U.K. COMnf.C 

representatives at a airl.y high level, and a.t an early date .. 

In view of' the foregoing, GENERAL TRUDEAU eJC.Pressed his ·• .. intention 

to withhold for the time being any positive action on the Ca.D:NT 

aspects of' thej rpproach which he had mentioned earlie~. 

GENERAL CANINE informed the members that ~~ coMnd! •. arrangements 

which my ultiim.tely be conc1uded with thd = I on the baeis 

be_ing discussed will undoubted.1.y require going beyond the limitations 

of Appendix "P" in the exchange of' in:f'orma.tion. • He added his opinion 

that yb1le such yiJJ be necessary and desirable he would not expect I I to be as extensive a.a 

those provided for between the British and ourselves. 

DECISION: (12 March 1954) USCIB, after discussing the I.SIB request 

contained in uscm 29.17/1, as well as the over-a11 problem of U.S. 

and U.K. COMIN'r dee.lings with individua~ L agreed 

that the Director, NBA, would approach U.K. COMINT authorities in:f'ormll.y, either here or in London to determine their reacti n 

proposal that the whole 

COMINT representatives at 

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