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Subject: 

Item 2 of the Agenda.for the llOth Meeting of USCIB, 

held on 10 December 1954. 

Extent to which U.S. COMINT Resources can be·Applied 

Effectively to Fulfill Requirements of the USCIB 

Master Requirements List. {USCIB 9.3/8, 11, 15, 16) 

THE CHAIRMAN introduced this problem by suggesting that it first be 

made the subject of a general discussion. He noted that some aspects of 

it will be most difficult tp deal with, and doubted that the matter could 

be resolved completely at this meeting. 

GENERAL CANINE, commenting that this is not the first time he has 

talked on this subject before the Board, informed the members that the 

present requirements placed upon him list even the most minute details of 

the Russian problem above any other problem with which he is concerned. 

He pointed out that this has made it necessary for him to take upon himself, in many instances, the responsibility for digressing from the list 

to fulfill other requirements which he believed to exist. He recalled. 

the provisions of NSCID Number 9, noting that they, in effect, put him 

outside the intelligence community, and pointed out that the actions he 

has described amount to having the intelligence business under the direction of someone not in the intelligence comm.unity. 

GENERAL ERSKINE expressed his view that the NSA paper has a great 

deal of merit and said that his own paper has elaborated upon it in some 

respects. It was his opinion that the Board should tell NSA what to do, 

but not how to do it; he added his further view that the Board is, in a 

sense, evading its responsibility in having the requirements prepared by 

a subordinate unit. 

THE CHAIRMAN pointed out that the Board, as such, had taken responsibility for the requirements list. 

GENERAL ERSKINE then proposed that the list be revised, as a means 

of providing the Director, NSA with a clear directive which will not 

require that the whole burden be borne by him. He suggested that a 

report by the Director, NSA, indicating what progress he has made, would 

be of assisi;ance in preparation of a directive. 

THE CHAIRMAN asked if existing directives called for periodic 

reports of the type mentioned. 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR replied that periodic reports are not provided for, 

but that reports are requested from time to time. He added his understanding that the proposal before the Board calls for periodic reports. 

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GENl!R!\L CANINE stated that under present procedure he is expected to 

notify the Board of major changes made by him. 

MR. SHELDON said that he thought General Erskine had defined the 

problem in two parts~ namely, (1) reports, and (2) the whole subject of' 

requirement.a. He added that he had prepared a series of fundamental 

questions pertaining to format which be would like to circulate for 

information and comment. 

At THE: CHAIRMAN 1s suggestion it was agreed that the paper would not 

be considered at this time, but, rather, would be taken up at the next 

meeting. 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR addressed himself' to the overall problem, pointing 

out that he has been associated with it, off and on, since 1948. He 

noted that ~he problem of fixing requirements has always been a troublesome one, and reminded the members that the present method represents 

a new approach which is still under test. He went on to describe, and 

defend, the method of fixing requirements, stating that it would appear 

impractical for USCIB, as such, to handle the problem. He agreed with 

General Canine that the basic requirements list is out of' date and not 

responsive t;o the problem, adding his belief' that the main difficulty, 

however, is due to the fact that the Information Requirements are so 

voluminous ~md broad in scope that it is practically impossible for NSA 

to respond to them. He did not think it reasonable, he said, to decide 

upon basic objectives in light of available facilities; however, he was 

of the opinion that a consideration of facilities does become necessary 

when information requirements are being prepared. He concluded by 

suggesting that the staff structure of the Board is competent to solve 

the problem and suggested, further, that the members' principal 

assistants on USCIBEC be designated to look into this matter and make 

recommendations to the Boa.rd. 

GENERAL ERSKINE noted the lliiportance of giving consideration to the 

capabilities of the person charged with meeting the requirements, and 

said that he believes missions should be assigned within those capabilities. 

THE CHAIRMAN said that he did not completely agree, stating his 

belief' that we should say what we want and work toward that as a goal. 

ADMIRAL ESPE, stating his opinion that the guide lines for drawing 

up the list should be changed, suggested that USCIBEC and the Intelligence Committee, havin~ the necessary technical ability, should revise 

the list and submit it for USCIB approval. 

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MR. ARMSTRONG, stating that he is sympathetic with General Canine 1s 

problem and agrees with General Erskine that a prompt revision is 

required, offered a procedural suggestion. Pointing out that the formulation of a better plan will lead into a myriad of' details with which 

the Board would find it difficult to deal, he proposed that the NSA and 

OSD plans be sent to USCIBEC for immediate inclusion on their agenda, 

and prompt reporting back to the Board of a new or composite plan for 

adoption. 

GENERAL CANINE said that if' this suggestion is followed the Board 

should give USCIBEC some guidanc~ •. : 

THE CHUH.MAN informed the members that the IAC will devote its 

entire next meeting to the question of priorities, and a copy of the 

Committeers conclusions should be obtainable for use by USCIBEC. 

ADMmAL ESPE remarked that some guidance of value to USCIBEC 

probably would be found in answers to specific questions put to NSA as 

the result of' their initial report of last July. He said it was his 

understanding that the questions were never answered. 

GENERAL CANINE proceeded to speak to this point, dealing in considerable detail with the subject of NSA canabilities. He expressed his 

opinion tha·t:. a discussion of the capabilities of' NSA at arry given time, 

unrelated, is academic, and explained that a report on capabilities is 

only worthwhile in tenns of guidance received. He added that he feels 

that NSA has had to operate with insufficient guidance, which has made 

it difficult for him to do the job expected of him. 

GENERAL LEWIS, stating that the consumers know little of what NSA 

is doing, suggested closer coordination as a solution to the guidance 

problem. He also suggested that the whole requirements problem be 

staffed for the Board and that the Board members themselves take the 

maximum interest in the matter that time will permit. 

GENERAL CANINE, in reply to General Lewis' initial statement, 

indicated the number of people each of the consumer agencies have at 

Arlington Hall, with more or less free access to the whole operation, 

and said that he is surprised that the consumers are uninformed on what 

takes place in NSA. 

THE CHAIRMAN ref erred to the proposal made earlier by Mr. Armstrong 

and asked if the members wished to specify, in addition, that USCIBEC 

endeavor to determine present capabilities, existing requirements, and 

measures to be taken to fill the gaps between the two. 

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CAPTAIJq TAYLOR suggested, as a possible alternative means of handling 

the problem, that he and Captain Holtwick, or some other representative 

of NSA, ser·ve as an ad hoc committee to put together for Board consideration the in:rormation required. Such a report, he said, might be reviewed 

by the Boarci and, if necessary, it could be referred to the Committee. 

MR. ARMSTRONG stated that with all due respect for the ability of 

Captain Taylor and Captain Holtwick, he believed such a report would not 

go far enough •. He said that he considered it a matter of concern to all 

and suggest1:1d again that the work be done by USCIBEC as a whole. 

THE CHAIRMAN agreed, pointing out that USCIBEC may, if it so desires, 

designate c1~rtain members to work on certain portions of the plan. He 

asked if any further discussion is desired. 

GENERA.1.. CANINE asked tor a restatement of the USCIBEC tenns of 

reference. 

THE CHAIRMAN stated that USCIBEC will be asked to take the papers 

now before t,his Board and, based upon an examination of the whole 

philosophy c>f requirements, come up with a suggestion for the revision of. 

the Master imd Information Requirements Lists which will make them more 

practical and realistic. The USCIBEC recommendations, he said, will be 

considered by the Board at an early date. 

GENERA!. CANINE said that the reason he questions USCIBEC 1 s ability 

to handle the problem is because its members are primarily COMINT people 

and may not be su!ficiently briefed on what intormation is available from 

non-COMINT e1ources. 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR noted a peculiarity of COMINT which he thought was 

being overlooked, namely, reliability. He invited the members' attention 

to the fact that the reliability of information from non-COMINT sources 

normally does not get above B-2, while the reliability rating of information from COUNT sources is normally from B-2 to A-1. 

MR. ARMSTRONG agreed, and commented upon the advantage of having 

COM.INT back-up for information received from another source. 

THE CHAIRMAN then proposed that USCIBEC members be asked to join 

with them qualified people from the intelligence field if they feel they 

are not so qualified. 

There followed a discussion on the subject of day-to-day changes in 

requirements. General Canine expressed concern in this regard, explaining some of the difficulties he encounters in his effort to deal with the 

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problem fairly. He also described the problems which arise when any part of existing facilities become available for assignment of new missions. 

He informed the members that it would be of great assistance to him if he 

could be assured that each of the requirements put upon him has the 

personal approval of the Board member concerned. 

After a brief discussion or this point it was agreed that it would 

be given consideration by USCIB when the USCIBEC recommendations are 

studied. 

THE CHA.IBMAN inquired concerning the members' views on Mr. Armstrong's 

proposal for· handling the problem. 

It was agreed that the problem would be handled initially, and without delay, 'by USCIBEC as proposed. It was agreed, further, that the 

Executive Se1cretary would prepare and present to the Chairman a resolution 

embodying the points in this discussion. Following approval by the 

Chairman the1 resolution will be forwarded to all meinbers for approval. 

DECISION: (10 December 19.54) USCIB agreed that th;i.s matter would be 

considered without delay by USCIBEC, taking into account all papers now 

before the Board, together with a statement of IAC views on the whole 

priorities problElll. which it is expected will be available for information 

following IAC consideration of the matter at its next meeting. 

It was agreed, further, that USCIBEC in its review of the problem 

will concern itself with the entire philosophy behind the statement of 

requiremente, the merits of the present system, knO'Wn IAC objectives, and 

an examination of the present capabilities of the National Security Agency, 

giving specific consideration to existing requirements, existing capabilities, and gaps between the two. 

To insure that the USCIBEC treatment of the problem is based upon 

consideration of general intelligence, as well as C<l4INT, aspects it was 

understood that a:ny member organization deeming it necessary may designate 

a qualified intelligence representative to work with its USCIBEC member. 

It was agreed, finally, that USCIBEC recommendations, when fonnulated, 

will be presented for immediate full Board consideration. 

This item to remain on the agenda. 

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