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REF ID:A61202 

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TOi' aiCRd!i'r Y. S • Ef!.lffi OMLY TENTATIVE 

SUBJECT NUMBER 

USCIB: 29.1/14 Item A considered at the 99th (Special) Meeting of 

USCIB, held on 11 January 1954. 

Subject: Improvement of French Cormn:unications Security During 

the Berlin Conference. 

The CHAIRMAN recalled that Mr. Armstrong had been asked, at the 

last meeting of the Board, to assess the risks to the success of the 

Berlin Conference and to the security of the U.S. which may be expected 

to arise from the insecurity of French communications. He informed the 

members that this meeting had been called to permit consideration of 

Mr. Armstrong's recommendations. 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR stated that time had not permitted a formal distribution of papers in advance of the meeting, and asked that the following 

papers, now before the members, be returned at the close of the meeting 

to permit regular distribution to be made from his office. 

1. Mr. Annstrong 1s report on 11 I.mprovement of Communications 

Security During the Berlin Conference", dated 11 January 

1954. 

2. The Ad Hoc Committee report to Mr. Armstrong on the same 

subject, dated 8 January 1954 (an enclosure with Item 1, 

above). 

3. Message number 081850Z/l/54 from Director, GCHQ, which 

contains U.K. answers to questions raised at the last 

special meeting of the Doard on the subject of lending 

ROCK.EX equipment to t.he West Germans for the Berlin 

Conference. 

4. Tentative Minutes of the last (9ath) Special Meet.ing of 

the Board. 

(NOTE: The above items were distributed subsequent to the meeting with 

the following file designations: Items 1 and 2 - USCIB 29.1/12; 

Item 3 - USCIB 29.1/13; Item 4 - USCIB 5.2/22.) 

CAPTAIN TAYLOR went on to explain that he had acted as Chairman 

pro tem of the Ad Hoc Committee, at the request of Mr. Polyzoides, for 

the discus&ions reported in Item 2, above, to permit Mr. Polyzoides to 

represent STATE 1 s views as a member of the Committee. 

The CHAIRMAN asked Mr. Armstrong if he wished to comment upon his r~port. 

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eclassifi d and a roved for re ease b NSA o 0 -18-201 ursuant to E. 0. 1352 
USCIB: 29.1/14 

MR. ARMSTRONG began by complimenting the Ad Hoc Committee for doing 

such an excellent job in such a short time. Regarding his report he 

said that he felt there was less to be gained than might well be lost by 

acting to improve French security for the Conference at this late date, 

and recommended that no initiative be taken at this time. He recommended, 

instead, that the Board proceed with the long ran&e plan now under 

consideration. On the one hand, he said,'l:t was doubtful that French 

insecurity would result in a great loss of U.S. and U.K. security during 

the Conference, and, on the other hand, it was felt that the French, even 

with our help, would be unable to improve their security sufficiently in 

the short time available to make our assistance worth-while. 

The CHAIRMAN stated that this appeared to be largely a matter under 

STATE1s cognizance and he recommended adoption of the paper if there was 

no strenuous objection to it. 

The members approved the paper presented by Mr. Armstrong. 

The CHAIRMAN then informed the members that a reply to questions 

raised at the last meeting on the subject of provi~ing the West Germans 

with ROCKEX had been received from U.K. authorities. He asked if there 

were any objections to the proposed off er by the British in light of 

their comments. 

The members considered the U.K. explanation adequate and agreed that 

a change in the Board's previous position was warranted, i.e., the 

members now perceived no objection to the U.K. offer of ROCKEX to the 

West Germans for the period of the coming Berlin Conference. 

It was agreed, therefore, that Brigadier Tiltman would be notified 

accordingly. 

G:ENERAL ACKERMAN suggested that notification of the USCIB action 

in this matter and the Board's decision on the improvement of French 

communications security for the Berlin Conference be included in a 

single reply to Brigadier Tiltman. 

The question of how best to info:nn the British of these decisions 

was discussed, and agreement was reached on Captain Taylor's suggestion 

that he notify Brigadier Tiltman orally, and follow up this notification 

with a confirming mem.orandtnn to be approved by the STATE and NSA members 

before transmittal. 

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USCIB: '29.1/14 

DECISION: (11 January 1954) USCIB approved the report and recommendations made by Mr. Armstrong re improvement of' French communications 

security, and also agreed to raise no objection to proposed U.K. action 

toward provision of ROCKEX to the West Germans. It was agreed that the 

Executive Secretary would notify the Senior U.K. Liaison Officer 

accordingly, both orally, and by confirming memorandum to be approved 

by the STATE and NSA members before transmittal. As a result of' these 

decisions the following memorandum was sent: 

111. Further to my CIB #00010 of 7 January 1954 and in consideration of' GCHQ DTG 081850Z of January 1954 in reply thereto, 

USCIB again discussed this matter at a Special Meeting on Monday, 

11 January 1954. 

11 2. The Board are most grateful f'or the full and prompt reply 

to the above-mentioned GIB #00010 and desire that you be informed 

that USCIB perceives no objection to the course of action proposed. 

113. In addition, the Board asked that you be informed that 

USCIB contemplates no action at this time with regard to the 

problem of' the security of French communications !or the Berlin 

conference. rr 

The meeting adjourned at 1447. 

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