q~JH-A65725-

SEieRm = H.S. Ei!1!IS ONLY 

SUBJECT NUMBER 

USCIB: 13.7/45 

Subject: 

Item 4 of the Agenda for the 30th Meeting of USCIBEC, 

held on 26 May 1955. 

Categorization of COMINT. 

The CHAIRMAN (Captain Taylor) explained that the Department or the 

Air Force had sul:mitted a request for assignment of certain material to 

Category I. NSA, he continued, was unable to get coordination from the 

intelligence consumers on this request. He concluded by inviting the NSA 

member to advise the Committee as to the objections or views received during the attempt to coordinate the recommendation of the Air Force member. 

MR. BUFFHAM, at the request of Captain Holtwick, said that the members 

of the NSA committee (comprised of representatives of the intelligence 

consumers and NSA) who handle such requests agree that in view of the broad 

nature of the request it should be ref erred to USCIB for consideration. 

MR. GODEL asked if the Air Force request goes beyond the Catego,ry I 

list of material described in Annexure 11Bl11 of Appendix "B". 

LT. COLONEL HARROLD replied that, in his opinion, it is a matter of 

judgment. One or two items on the Air Force list, he added, could 

possibly be construed as being a little beyond the intent of Category I 

material delineated in Annexure "Bl". 

The CHAIRMAN asked about the urgency of the mat:t;er. 

LT. COLONEL HARROLD responded that it is most urgent and referred to 

the GONAD briefing by Colonel Mccann prior to discussion of Item 2. The 

support plan for GONAD, he went on to point out, will not work tonight if' 

we do not have this material actually assigned to Category I today. Almost 

all of the material in question, he concluded, has already been declared "Suitable~ for assignment to Category I. 

MR. POLYZOIDES suggested that the Committee (1) approve assignment of 

all of the types of information listed in the Air Force request falling 

within the purview of the Category I material described in Annexure "Bl" of 

Appendix "B" and (2) request the appropriate committee to define more 

precisely all of the material in question so that a decision with respect 

to the controversial portions may be reached at the earliest moment. 

CAPTAIN HOLTWICK remarked that a satisfactory mechanism is needed for 

the purpose of speedily transferring an item or items from the "Suitable" 

section to the assigned category. 

LT. COLONEL HARROLD expressed his opinion that there would not be 

enough time to use a mechanism. Furthermore, he added, should en~ 

USCIB: 13. ?/45 - 9 -

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 02-20-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 

SECRET 
9 ~65725 9 

SEeRBf' = Y,S, Eli& omtI 

USCIB: 13. 7/45 

aircraft get through the outer defense lines into an area where there is 

no radar, we want to be able to use instantly any information gathered 

from the conversations of the enemy pilots. 

MR. GODEL suggested that the Air Force be authorized to usQ the 

material under consideration, without the necessity of further approval, 

when an operational requirement exists. 

LT. COLONEL LEFFERS explained that the great majority of Army 

personnel who must use the material in question during wartime know 

nothing of its existence. These people should, he continued, have some 

training in its use before an operational situation arises. It's a 

question, he said, of writing down the ground rules and properly preparing ourselves adequately to cope with an operational situation before 

it arises. He concluded by recommending that subject material be 

assigned to Category I with the understanding that it could also be used 

for operational training purposes. 

The ensuing discussion of the intended use of Category I material as 

described in Annexure "Bl 11 , the philosophy of the present categorization 

scheme whereby Categories I and II are divided into 11Suitable" and 

"Assigned" sections, a more definite listing or interpretation of the 

material contained in the Air Force request, and operational use versus 

non-operational use of Category I material culminated in agreement to: 

a. Reconmiend that USCIB approve the assignment to Category I 

for operational use of all the types of information proposed in USCIB 

1.3.7/41 of lS May 1955 which are considered to fall within the purview of 

paragraph 2, Annexure "Bl", Appendix "B" of the UKUSA Agreement and to 

refer the entire list to the committee established by the Director, NSA 

for a more precise listing of the material involved. 

b. Recommend that the Army member prepare a study on this 

subject regarding non-operational or training use of the info:nnation in 

question. 

DECISION: (26 May 1955) USCIBEC agreed that: 

a. Regarding the operational use, to recommend approval of 

assignment to Category I of all the types of information proposed ~n 

USCIB 13.7/41 of lS May 1955 which are consider~d to fall within the purview of paragraph 2, Annexure "Bl", Appendix "B" of the UKUSA Agreement 

and to refer the entire list to the committee established by the Director, 

NSA for a more precise listing of all of the material involved. 

b. Regarding use of the information in question for nonoperational or training purposes~ to recormnend that the Army member prepare a study on this subject presenting views which can be considered at 

a future meeting of USCIBEC. 

USCIB: l'J.7/45 - 10 -

SECRET