NATIONAL SECURITY AGENC °'I' 

WASHINGTON 25, D. c::. Serial: 00011-04-S 

2 Sep 1954 

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USOIB 

SUBJ.EDT: Revision ot UKUSA Agreement 

l. Pursuant to the decision recorded in USCIB: 14.1/21, a 

draft revision of the basic UKUSA Agreement; was prepared at this 

Agency and was informally coordinated with the Executive Secretary, 

USCIB, during April 1954. At the same time, the Eicecutive Secretary expressed the view that certain Appendic~s should remain under USCIB 

cognizance, while others should become working arrangements between 

the Directors, NSA and GCHQ. These two groupings, respectively, 

would be: 

a. Introduction to the UKUSA Appendices; Appendices A, B, 

G, I, J, P, and Q. 

b. Appendices C, D, E, F, H, K, L, M, N, and O. 

2. With regard to the second grouping, the Executive Secreta17 

suggested that the Director, NSA, shoulJ. report annually to USCIB 

any significant changes in communications arrangements (Appendix H) 

or in relocation plans (Appendix N). 

3. Subsequent to April 1954, t.his Agency has been drafting .a 

detailed revision o£ the UKUSA documents along the lines indicated 

above. Thio project is nearing completion, and specific proposals 

on the subject will be coordinated with the .Executive Secretary and 

submitted to USCIBEO as soon as possible. 

4. A separate, but closely related action has developed in 

corresp0ndeme between the Directors, NSA and GCHQ (via SUSLO (L)). 

Significant developments are sununarized below: 

a. In a memorandum dated 2.3 June 1954, the Director, NSA, 

received a revision of Appendix E proposed by GCHQ. The proposed 

revision was accompanied by GCHQ comments to the effect that OOHQ 

did not consider it necessary to submit the proposed revision to 

rsm; that agreement between NSA and GCHQ would be sufficient in 

advance 0£ the contemplated complete revision of all Appendices. 

b. On 1.3 July 19541 NSA notified GCHQ that NS.Ii. needs USCIB 

authorization to implement 8llY' changes which NSA and GCHQ might agree 

eclassified and approved for release by NSA on 

2-28-2014 ursuantto E.O. 13526 

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are required in Appendix E and certain other Appendices; that NSA 

was considering proposing that a note be added to the Introduction 

to the Appendices. The note 'lrJ:>uld explain that severaJ. o£ the 

Appendices require revision by USCIB and LSIB. It "WOuld explain, 

further, the interim status of certain technical Appendices which 

might, according to the agreed views of NSA and GCHQ, require revision. The text ot such an explanatory note was contained in this 

correspondence of 13 July 1954 for GCHQ connnent. 

c. GCHQ reply to the correspondence of lJ July 1954 was 

received in a memorandum dated 5 August 1954. The reply suggested 

several changes in the note as originally drafted at NSA. The proposed note, as revised by GCHQ, is as follows: 

"On 1954, USCIB and I.SIB agreed that a 

general revision of the Appendices was required. 

They further agreed that as a first step toward 

such revision USCIB would .furnish LSIB, for comment, detailed proposals which are being prepared 

by USCIB. Pending agreement by both parties on a 

general revision of the Appendices, the Directors, 

NSA and GCHQ, will: 

(a) determine jointly any changes which may be 

required in Appendices C, D, E> F> K, L, and 

M and 

(b) implement any such changes which they agree 

to be necessary. 

Although this interim authorization enables the 

Directors, NSA and GCHQ, to change or interpret 

specified Appendices by mutual agreement, it does 

not require USCIB or I.SIB to approve such changes 

or interpretations provided these are within the 

spirit and intent of current UKUSA policy. 11 

d. The GCHQ reply mentioned in sub-paragraph c, above, also 

included. the following comments: 

(1) "Director, GCHQ, is already authorized by LSIB to 

agree to changes :in the Appendices when these 

changes merely a.£f ect technical COMINT matters and 

are not matters of inter-Board policy •. The new 

proposed wording is therefore intended to avoid 

the suggestion that new 1 authorization' is required 

from LSIB. 11 

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(~) "Appendices H, N, and O (which are omitted rrom 

the GOHQ draft but were included 1n the NSA draft) 

directly a.tf ect member-agencies ot LSIB other than 

OOHQ. For this reason,, Director,, GCHQ,, considers 

that they wuld be more appropriately- grouped with 

Appendices A,, B, G,, I,, J,, and P." 

e. NSA reply to the GOHQ conments described in sub-paragraphs 

c and d,, above, was forwarded on 24 August 1954. In that reply, the 

Director, NSA, concurred in the proposed note as revised by GCHQ, and 

indicated that the agreed version wuld be submitted to USCIB for 

approval. The Director, NSA, agreed .further that Appendix E should 

be revised in accordance with the GOHQ draft. 

5. It is recommemed that USCm: 

a. Approve, as an addition to the Introduction to the UKUSA 

Appendices, the note quoted in paragraph 4c, above, and 

b. Direct the Executive Secreta~ to arrange with the Secret&17, LSIB, .tor USCIB-ISIB agreement on (1) the proposed note and (2) 

the date. to be inserted therein. 

FOR THE DIRECTOR: 

• 

• H. FROST 

Rear Admiral, US Navy 

Chief of Staff 

'1tlP Sia~ CQN!l':RQI. lMIBER 54-2400A 

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