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SUBJECT NUMBER 

USCIB: 5.4/14 

SUBJECT: 

Item 4 of the Agenda for the Sixteenth Meeting of 

USOIBEC held on 25 June 1954. 

Annual Report of the Executive Secretary, USCIB. 

(mcm 5.4/12) 

The CHAIRMAN briefly reviewed the background. of this item, explaining that he had written some interpretations of the job of the Executive 

Secretary which some of the members might find obj actionable. He invited 

criticism of the report and observed that it is high time he should be 

ad.vised to mend his ways should the philosophies expressed in the repo:r:rt 

not be in complete accord with those of the Committee or the Board. 

MR. POLYZOIDES moved that the report and its enclosures be acceptt.=id 

provided the minutes carried a line to express the Committee's gratitude 

for the splendid work the Executive Secretary has done. Had it not be1:in 

for the drive and effort on the part of the Executive Secretary, he 

continued, many of the complicated items considered would not have been 

accomplished during the past year. 

_____ .... lseconcied···too···m.otiori.~ OGA 

The CHAIRMAN expressed his gratitude for the c~nts. Then turn:Lng 

to the report, he invited the members• attention to his recommendation1:1 

on the over-aJ.l problem of security, stating that from his study of thi~ 

reports of violations, he felt that the Director, NSA would have to 

initiate some drastic action that could be very distasteful to the military 

elements under his operational control. He continued by reading some 

general figures that reflected 60 compromises for the full year, as of 

1 M:ty 1954. Hali' were, he noted, transmissions in the clear. After 

explaining in some detail the nature of the compromises, he stressed 

the need for immediate and aggressive action to eliminate this type of 

leakage. In conc1usion, the Chairman stated that he realized his re:maJ:-ks 

were rather strong' but he did wish to emphasize to the ma.xi.mum possiblE~ 

degree the fact that the problem of preventing plain language transmisHions 

deserves a great· deal of attention. He then invited comments. 

The M!:MBERS discussed the recommendation contained in Section II, 

Paragraph Cl of the Annual Report. It developed that the National 

Security Agency had interpreted USCIB 1.3.5/42 of 8 Mirch 1954 as establishing the minimum standards required by USCIB Directive No. 9, Revised. A 

majority of the other members indicated that they have been operating under 

the impression that USCIB 13.5/42 does not constitute minimum standardEI 

required by Section III, Paragraph 1 of CIBD No. 9, Revised and they hELd 

therefore been awaiting distribution of such minimum standards. To 

USCIB: 5.4/14 -6-

'f'OP SECRET 

eclassified and approved for release 

y NSA on 11-20-2014 pursuant to 

.0. 13526 
\ I ._,,,. 

tor S!iC'!!E'f = u.e. ms ggx 

tBCIB: 5.4/14 

eliminate this misunderstanding the CF.AIBMAN suggested and the MemberH 

agreed to notify the Executive Secretary, USCIB by Friday, 2 July 1951,. 

of acceptance (or non-acceptance, with appropriate recommendations) oj~ 

USCIB 13.5/42 dated 8 March 1954, as the minimum standards governing 

communications security systems, procedures, practices and training 

programs to be ·followed by all USCIB member organizations in the trani~­

mission of COMINT by electrical means, 

CAPTAIN AGNEW, making reference to Section II, Paragraph CJ of the 

report of the Executive Secretary, then stated that NSA would prefer to 

have the 16 August 1954 date changed so that I.SIB could be queried with 

regard to its ability to fully implement Appendix "B" by that date, 

' Following a brief discussion of the planning behind the recommencia- · tion of the 16 August 1954 target date plus the consensus of the membE~rs 

that categorization of COMINT should be expedited, it was agreed that the 

:target date of 16 August 1954 should be accepted. 

I lcontintiedmthemud.:i..scussion by pointing out that since 

Paragraph lb of Part II of the Intelligence Committee report had been 

witten, new facts had intervened which changed 'Ghe situation outlined 

therein. A revised statement, be added, 'W'ould be submitted at a latel:-

date. 

OGA 

MR. CORRY of NSA informed the Members that the status report recc>mme:nded in Paragraph G2 of Section II of the report of the Executive 

Secretary is being prepar~d and would be submitted in time for USCIB 

consideration at its September meeting. 

In response to a statement by the NSA Member that bis Agency's 

.functions are only supervisory and that the Services are responsible 

for initiating action, if necessary, to improve the situation, the 

CHA;rRMAN stated that his understanding and the basis of his action 

has been that the Director, National Security Agency is responsible for 

those elements under his operational or technical control. He read 

Paragraphs 2e(4) and 2g of' NSCID No. 9 adding that 58 out of the 60 

compromises under.discussion had occurred in units under the operatio1Jal 

or technical control of NSA, 

The OHAmMA.N expressed his hope that no one felt that an effort 

bad been made at this time to victimize any-body, as such is not the 

case. In the future prosecution of' this program to reduce securi~y 

compromises, he continued, it might well be necessary to discipline 

some commanding officers and, if so, it must be done. The discussion 

concluded with accep~ce of' the report of the Executive Secretary. 

USCIB: 5.4/14 -7-

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"fUP MPUT - o.s. ''" om 

tECIB: 5.4/14 

1SiISIQI: (25 June 1954) tECIBEC agreed to recommend approval of the 

report contained in tSCIB 5.4/12 of 15 June 1954. · 

tlSCIB: 5.4/14 -SJ.. 

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