RECEIPT FOR CLASSIFIED MATERIAL 

"'DDAVSEE SD NO NO 

- 51914 _ l'!ti 1_,,Jlen .. P •• T • Conine - -

ORIGINATOR OR CUSTODIAN CLASSIFICATION DATE OF TRANSFER 

BriN'.Get'.J. I i-yn: l"lt •r IKJ TS Os ll/6/52 --

TELEPHONE NO 1";'2'1"o'2 D c 

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SUBJECT (Use short trtle ' r1 ohort title for Sub1ect would be SOSAD ) (lncludm/l date of Document) 

Shipment of Shoe.! and Dre~ses 

COl.ib>-~C Memo for Sec/State r Sec/Def L1td 2f;lc1 12 

COPIES 

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ORIGINAi. cc I OTHERS I ~NCLOSlJRES 

No. 2 Declassified and approved for -

DATE RECEIVED RECEIVED BY (S11lnatur< elease by NSA on 01-31-2014 

iursuantto E.O. 13526 

1~10011-1 GPO 

SD FORM 

1 NOV 50 120 
- ~ -- ur. Wil:liam F • Friedman 

REF ID:A72219 • 

NSC 1681. COPY NO -

A REPORT 

TO THE 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

by 

' ' 

THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY (COMSEC} 

October 20, 1953 

WASHINGTON 

®@OO~nffii~Wu&l o~ 1Eb16EE3£1'B'll~ 
•.. REF ID:A7221. 

WARNING 

THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF 

THE ESPIONAGE ACT, TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTIONS 793 AND 794. ITS 

TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PROHIBITED BY LAW. 

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NSC 168 ·-

REF ID:A72219 

SE 

October 20, 1953 

NOTE BY THE EXECurIVE SECRETARY 

to the 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

on 

COW:fQNICATIONS SECURITI (COMSEC) ' 

Pursuant to a Presidential d-1rective of October 24, 195'2, 

a special committee or the National Security Council for COMSEC 

Matters composed of the Secretaries of State and Defense, and 

including for this purpose, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission, 

advised by the Director ot Central Intelligence, have this 

date approved the enclosed directive on the subject for a 

trial period or one year. 

Accordingly, the enclosure is transmitted herewith for 

implementation by all appropriate executive departments and 

agencies of the u. s. Government for a trial period of one 

year. Pursuant to paragraph 1-R or the enclosure the Secretaries of State, Defense and the Treasury, the Director, 

Federal Bureau or Investigation, the Secretaries of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Director or the National Security Agency and the 

Atomic Energy Commission are being requested to designate representatives tor the Untted States Commwiications Security Board (U'JCSB) • 

JAMES S. LAY, Jr. 

Executive Secretary 

cc: The Secretary of the Treasury The Attorney General 

The Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation The Secretary of the Army The Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Air Force 

The Directqr of Central Intelligence The Director of the National Sec\.'d.t7 Agency 

• The Atomic Energy Commission 

NSC 168 .. CQHFIBEH'f Itil 
. , 

• REF ID:A7221 • 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 

on 

COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY 

The Presidential directive of October 24, 19521 

00NF!BSN'HMt 

SEeURl'ff :ENPeR14*fieN 

October 20, 19S3 

a. Stated that the security or Federal communications (COi'fSEC) is - . 

a national responsibility, and that CO!'ASEC policies and procedures r.mst 

be integrated so as to enable the various departments and agencies of 

the Government to cooperate effectively in such Matters and to satisfy 

legitimate requirements f'or the security of their messages; 

b. Designated the 5ecretaries of State and Defense as a Special - Committee of the National Security Council for CONS:GC Hatters, to establish such policies relating to COMSEC as will achieve the maximum 

security of Fec!eral telecommunications, and to keep the President advised of such policies through the Executive Secretary of the National 

Security Council-JI-; and 

c. Directed the Special Committee of the NSC to prepare and - issue in the C01•!SEC field directives which wili: 

* 'the President in approving this directive also directed that the Attorney 

General shall be a member of the Special Committee ~1henever matters of interest to t;1e F'ede:;:-al. Bureau of Investigation are be.fore that Committee. 

In accordR.'lce Pi t:1 the President's instructions regarding the nonnal operation of tbe Counc~l, the heads of departments and agencies not repre• 

sented on the Special Committee, shall also participate as members of 

the Special Com.~ittee whenever matters of direct interest to their respective agencies are before that Committee • 

NSC 168 G 9NFIBf.iN':P±AL 

SEGUJGTY I~~TIQN 
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• REF ID: A72219 e 

(l) Rescind the E>tecutive Order ot July 3, 1945 entitled "Cryptographic Security with Respect to Certain Communications of the Govern-

(2) F.stablish a United States Communications Security Board (USCSB) 

responsible tor integrating policies and procedures affecting the secur1 ty ot Federal telecommunications. 

(3) Provide tor the establishment of appropriate responsibilities 

and authorities to assure within the various departments and agencies 

ot the Government, among other things: 

(a) High and uniform standards of communications security; 

(b) Ef'tecti ve cooperation. in COMSEC matters between dei;ertments and agencies concerned; 

(c) The adequacy ot the cryptographic systems used; 

(d) Coordination of COMSEC problems, partic':1l&r1Y policies 

with respect to foreign governments; 

(e) Satisfaction of legitimate requ~!ements tor the security 

ot telecommunications. 

Pursuant to the foregoing and to the provisions of Section 101 and Section 211 of the National Security Act of 1947, as amended, the Special Committee ot the National Security Council tor COMSEC hereby authorizes and 

directs as tollOW"s: 

l. The United States 'l.:ommunications Secur1 ty Board (USCSB) : 

!: '!here is hereby established the United States Camrunications 

Security Board (USCSB) 1 hereinafter referred to as the Board,, which 

* The Order was ci8ss1tied and was not published in the Federal Register. 

It was rescinded by the Presiden~ on Dcto;_;c.r 20., l~'..iJ 

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09lWIBEtft'fAL 

SiCUR*WY IIJl.ORW.'HOI' 
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shall be a body acting tor and under the aforesaid Special Committee and 

shall operate in accordance with the provisions of this Directive and any . . 

other directives which may be issued by the Special Co.mmittee. 

b. The Board shall be composed of one representative of each ot the 

following: 

(1) The Secretary of State 

(2) The Secretary of Defense 

(3) The Secretary ot the Treasury 

(4) The Director, Federal Bureau ot Investigation 

(5) The Secretary of the Army 

(6) The Secretary ot the Navy 

(7) The Secretary of the Air Force 

(8) The Director ot Central Intelligence 

(9} The Director of the National Security Agency 

(10) The Atomic Energy Commission 

c. Under the authority ot the Special Committee it shall be the responsibility ot the Board: 

(1) To integrate policies and procedures affecting the security 

ot Federal telecommunications; 

(2) To establish broad policies necessary to: 

(a.) Insure high and uniform standards ot' COMSEC 'Within the 

various departments and agencies of the Government. 

{b) Institute and maintain effective cooperation in COMSEC 

D1$tters among the departments and agencies concerned. 

(c) Achieve the maximum practicable degree of security of 

Federal telecommunications. 

(d) Satisfy legitimate requirements tor the security of 

telecommunications of the d.epl.l'tments and.agencies • 

(e} Guide the relations of the U. s. Government with toreign governments and international organizations in COM.SEC matters. 

MSC 168 - 3 -

C6Nii'I:6ElffD\L 

SEWRI'l'¥ IHPG!UfA'Pf ON 
• REF ID: A72219 • eOMnmlft'm. 

(t) Guide the actions to be taken by the Elcecutive Agent in 

COMSEC matters. 

(3) To approve the long-range plans tor conmunicattons security 

ot the u. s .. 

(4) To advise the Special Committee with respect to COMSEC policy 

matters decided by the Board and -1te recoumendations as appropriate. 

(5) To study the COMSEC standards and practices ot any depart-~ 

ment or agency in the tield ot COM3EC and make recommendations as 

necessary to insure canpliance with the directives ot the Boe.rd in 

this field. 

d. The Board shall elect .its own Chairman tl"Oll1 emotl8 ite meaberabip. 

e, The Board shall have a staff' headed by an executive secretary who 

shall be appointed by the Chairman with the approval of a majority of the 

Board. 

t. The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairman or at the request ot any member, and shall determine its own procedures subject to 

the provisions ot this directive. 

I· The Boa.rd shall reach its decisions by majority vote. The Director, National Security Agency, will have no vote in matters involving 

appeals from bis own decisions. In the event that the Board votes and 

reaches a decision, any dissenting member or the Board may appeal from 

such decision. Such appeal must be made within 15 days to the Special 

Committee. In the event that the Boa.rd votes and fails to reach a decision, any member of the Board may appeal to the Special Committee and 

such appeal must be made within 15 days of the inconclusive vote. In 

lJSC 168 - 4 -

eeHPf f!JN'fitii 

iECYRIW¥ IIPQRIU .. 'HQN 
REF ID:A72219 

either event the Special Committee 'shall review the matter, and its determimtion thereon shall be final. Appeals by the Director ot NSA, or 

by the representative ot any ot the Military Departments, shall be filed 

only with the approval ot the Secretary of Defense. 

h. No action shall be taken with respect to any matter forming the 

subject ot an appeal until the appeal is decided; provided that, if' the 

Secretary of Defense determines, after consultation with the Secretary of 

State (and the Attorney General and the heads of other departments and 

agencies as appropriate), that the subject matter presents a problem ot 

an emergency nature and requires immediate action, his decision shall 

govern, pending the result of the appeal. In such e.n emergency situation 

the ap];leal may be taken directly to the President by· the Special COlllmittee. 

! . The Board shall invite the head of any department or agency not 

represented on the Board to designate a representative to participate with 

the Board in consideration of matters of direct interest to such a department or agency, to the end that the communications security needs ot such 

departments and agencies may be considered; and heads of departments and 

agencies not represented on the Board.may present, through the Executive 

Secretary of the Doard, communications security matters for consideration by the Board . 

.il.· Departments or agencies not represented on the Board may appeal 

trom decisions ot the Board in the manner prescribed tor departments and 

agencies represented on the Board. 

2. Directive to the Secretary ot Defense 

!• The Department ot Defense is hereby designated as Executive Agent 

ot the Government tor all COMSEC matters. 

use 168 ... 5 - SiCf.li*H INP6RMA!!OH 
-------------~-------- REF ID:A72219 

b. As J!Xecutive Agent, the Department of Defense is charged with the - mission at: 

(1) Providing centralized, over-all coanizance ot the measures 

necessary to provide and assure the adequacy of the cm.1SEC techniques 

and materials used by the Govermn.ent; 

(2) Formulating tor the Board integrated technical and O:p!rating 

policies, programs, and long .. ra.nge plans required to maintain high and 

uniform standards to ensure the security of Federal telecommunications; 

and 

(3) Providing advice and recommendations on any aspect of the 

f'ield of COMSEC • 

. :: As E>eecutive Agent the Department ot Defense is empowered to take 

action within policies and procedures established by the Board, in all 

COMSEC matters affecting the deJ:artments and agencies ot the Government 

provided, however, that where exception to its action is made by the sec .. 

retary of a de:pa.rtment or by the Head or Director of an agency outside of 

the Department of Defense, such exceptions shall be referred to the Board. 

Pending Board revie~, it the Department of Defense determines that the 

subject matter presents a problem ot an emergency nature and requires 

immediate action it may refer the matter to the -Special Camnittee for 

immediate decision. 

!· Subject to the specific provisions of this Directive and subsequent directives issued by competent authority, the Director ot the Nationa.l Security Agency shall act tor the EJcecutive Agent in all COMSEC 

matters set forth in sub:paragraphs (1) through (13} below and any others 

~SC 168 

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COHP'f mftBd:i 

CH!JCURFfY IHP0mwPI0N 
REF ID:A72219 ~ 

WNFIDEN'f D\11 

M:etm:E!'Y I:NlmlW.WIOI 

which may be specified by the Special COmmittee or the Board. With respect to the Military Departments, the Director, BSA, will perform his 

functions under the immediate direction ot the Joint Chiefs of Staf't. 

Thus, in the fields of cryptosecurity, transmission security, physical 

security, and cover and deception, it shall be the responsibility ot the 

Director, NSA: 

(1) To review and approve, or, in the absence of approved proposals, to prescribe the cr;yptoprinciples incorporated or to be incorporated in any telecommunications equipnents and systems and in 

any COMSEC equipments and systems used by the departments and agencies 

ot the Government. 

(2) To review and approve, or, in the absence ot approved proposals, to prescribe cryptosecurity rules, regulations, and instructions applicable to the operation and use of any crypto-equipnents 

and systems and of any COMSEC equipnents and systems. 

(3) To perform technical analysis ot Federal telecommunications 

tor the purpose of determining the degree ot COMSEC being provided by 

the cryptoprinciples, materials and procedures utilized by the departments and agencies as well as the effect on COMSEC ot the communications procedures and practices also being utilized; making arrangements as appropriate to obtain the material required tor such analysis. (See paragraph 3·!-(2).) 

(4) To review and evaluate comm.unications procedures developed 

by the departments and agen~ies to determine whether such procedures 

will provide and maintain transmission security; and to recanmend 

MSC 168 - 7 -

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REF ID: A722.19 

-e COH!'Imt!BL 

81Gt14P1'¥ HP0RMi\ftetf 

l'evisions and additional rules and procedures as required. To accanpliah this the Director, NSA,, may perform technical analyses ot Federal 

telecanmunications and shall make the necessary arrangements with the 

departments and agencies to obtain the material required for analysis. 

(See paragraphs 3·!·(1) and -(2).) 

(5) In collaboration with the departm.e~ts and agencies as appropriate, to prescribe minimum standards tor the pb¥s1cal security ot 

cryptomaterial. 

(6) In collaboration with the departments and agencies, to assist 

in the preparation of and to review the ccmmunications portions of all 

cover and deception plans. To formulate and pramilgate the basic policies used in such portions. 

(7) To obtain from the departments and agencies their requirements for crypto-equipments ~ aterials and to formulate, for con .. 

sidere.tion by the Board, integrated programs tor the research, developnent, production and procurement necessary to meet these requirements and adequate to ens'lll"e the continuing security ot Federal communications. 

(8) To review and coordinate the integrated cryptosec'l.U"ity research and developnent program and to conduct re-search and developnent 

necessary to support it. SUbject tQ prior notification to and coordi1 

nation with the Director, NSA (in the case ot the Military Departments, approval by the Director, NSA), departments and agencies may 

initiate and pursue such research and developnent projects as may be 

necessary to support their COMSEC activities. 

r~SC 168 - 8 -

S9NP!Bl!llft'D\L 

szetfflI!Y Ilfti'e~Helf 
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REF ID:A72219 

(9) To produce cr,vptomaterial necessary to meet the legitimate 

requirenents of the departments and agencies and to snsure that there 

is adequate capacity to meet these requirenents. In so doing, the 

Director, MSA, by nmtual agreement will authorize the departments and 

agencies to engage in the production or c17Ptomaterial provided that 

such production is conducted in accordance with technical cryptologic 

criteria prescribed by the Director, NSA,, and .further provided that 

the Director, NBA, ia kept informed of the production accompli.Shed. 

(JD) In meeting operational requiremen",,s, to ensure the necessary 

compatibility and, in so far as practicable, the standardization of 

crypto-equipments and material in order to promote a max:1mwn. ot et• 

f'iciellCJ' and econo11\Y 1n their procurenEnt1 operation, aid maintenance. 

Determination or the acceptability of an equipment in meeting the operational requirements is a responsibility or the departments and 

agencies. 

(11) To .furnish services and materials for the COMSEC program of 

the departments and azencies umer mutually agreeable fiscal arrange• 

ments. 

(12) To conduct liaison on technical COMSEC and related matters 

with the cryptologic authorities of foreign nations and intemational 

organizations. 

(JJ) To provide technical guidance and support for ceyptosecurity 

training conducted by the departments and agencies. 

e. Except on matters which have been voted on by the Board and sub- • 

ject to the direction ot the Secret8.1'7 ot Defense (and in the case or the 

HSC J.68 

SBel:JR!'f Y Iifti'OlmltTIOR 
REF ID:A72219 e CO!tr!fill'fftil 

SBGUR:m¥ Xlll!ORMA.1'XON 

Military Departments, the Joint Chiefs ot statf'), the Director, NSA, shall 

discharge bis responsibilities in accordance with bis own judgment. In 

exercising the authority over COMSEC matters granted in this Directive~ 

the Director, NSA, shall: 

(1) Obtain f'rCXl1 the deiartments and agencies such information as 

he may require in performing his functions, as authorized in this Directive or any other directive subsequently issued. 

(2) Act through the department and agency representatives on the 

Board or, in the case ot departments and agencies not represented on 

the Board, through the duly authorized representatives of the heads 

ot such departments and agencies. 

(3) Arranse with the authorized representative ot a department 

or ~gency tor required liaison with subordinate elements of that dell&l"tment or agency. 

(4) Refer violations of COMSEC instructions to the head of the 

department or agency concerned tor such action as may be deemed neeessary and, it appropriate corrective action is not taken, refer the 

subJect to the Board. 

3. Directive to the Depa.rtments and Agencies ot the Goverment 

a. All departments and agencies ot the Federal Govermnent shall: 

(1) Organize and conduct their communications security ac~ivities 

as they see tit subject to the provisions of law, the directives ot 

the President, the provisions ot this Directive, and any other directives which may be issued by the Special Committee. Nothing in 

this Directive shall relieve the individual departments and agencies 

.. 10 -

e6fi'ffElf.H1cL 

GlaJBX'lY I~'rlOI 
REF ID:A72219 

of their responsibilities tor executing all measures required to assure the security and efficiency of their own telecommunications. 

(2) Not be reql.lired to disclose to the Director, NSA, the Board, 

or any of 1 ts committees the contents ot any official camnnn1 cations 

concerning its activities, it, in the opinion of' the head ot the department or agency, the disclosure would be contrary to the national 

interest. Nothing in this Directive shall be construed to give the 

Board or any of its representatives the right to inspect any department or agency without a~proval by the head thereof. 

(3) Bring to the attention of the Board all rules and regulations in conflict with the provisions of this Directive. 

4. Special Terms Used in this Directive a.re Defined as Follows: 

!· Telecommunications .. Any transmission, emission or reception ot 

sign, signals, writing, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature 

by wire, radio, visual, or other electranagnetic system. 

!?.· Federal Telecommunications - 'lbose telecommunications which are ot 

an official character dealing with governmental affairs and a.re originated 

by or intended for of'f'icials of the United States Government. Specifically exempted tram this definition is that portion of the communications 

activities conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency in accordance with 

the authorities granted the Director ot Central Intelligence Ullc1er l'mCID 

No. 5. 

c. Communications Security - The protection resulting from all measures designed to deny to unauthorized persons information of value which 

might be derived from the possession and study of ~elecommunications, or 

; eeNPiBEN'l'!lm 

!iSL 168 - 11 - smJBI'fi INPE>RMA:'fiOlf 
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REF ID:A72219 e C01'Pff8H!Itii . 816URPP¥ I'RPOnMl'H0R 

to mislead Wl&Uthorized persons in their interpretation ot the results of 

such a study. Communications security includes: (1) transmission security, (2) cryptosecurity, and (3) physical security ot communications security materials and information. 

!· Transmission Security - Transmission security is that component 

of communications security which results from all measures designed to 

protect transmissions tram unauthorized interception, traffic analysis, 

and imitative deception. 

e. Qryptosecurity - That component ot communications security which 

results from the provision ot technically sound cryptosystems and their 

proper use. 

t. 9ryptoprinciple - The characteristics of the elements involved in, 

and the fundamental rule ot operation, motion, or activity inherent in a 

cryptosystem. 

I· Cryptosystem (Cryptographic System) - The associated items ot 

cryptomaterial which are used as a unit and which provide a single means 

ot encryption and decryption. 

h. Cryptomaterial - All material, including documents, devices and/or 

equipment or apparatus employed in the encryption or decryption of telecommunications. 

i. Crypto-equi1311ent - The crypto-apparatus, mechanisms, machines or 

devices used in the encryption or decryption Of telecommunications • 

.l· Physical Security - That component ot security which results tram 

all physical measures necessary to safeguard classified equipment, materia1 and documents from ~ccess thereto or observation thereof by unauthorized persons. 

MSC 16'8 - 12 -

00BPIBllftflcL 

SEetJRf'fl' fNP6RM#d'f6N