USCIB: 13.7/28 

3 August 1954 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE Ml!MBERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: Emergency Dissemination of CCMINT to Non-indoctrinated 

Persons. 

References: (a) USCIB 1307/20 dated 10 June 1954. 

(b) USCIB 13.7/24 dated 2 July 1954. 

1. The enclosure herewith is a draft of a directive approved by 

the Executive Committee on a trial basis at its 17th Meeting on 

30 July 1954. The purpose of the proposed directive is to establish 

the basic policy of USCIB with regard to implementation of the 

provisions of paragraphs 35, 36 and 37 of Appendix "B" to the UKUSA 

Agreement regarding exceptional dissemination of COMINT. 

2. As the proposed directive is intended to cope with the new 

circumstances that it is anticipated will attend full implementation 

of the above-mentioned Appendix 11B11 , the Executive Committee recommends that the directive be adopted. on a trial basis of one year, •. 

3. In the absence of ob,1ection from any member of the Board 

prior to 1700, Thursday, 12 August 1954, the enclosure hereto will be 

considered approved on a trial basis for one year from that date. 

4. THIS DOCUM]NT AND ITS ENCLOSURE CONTAIN COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND SHALL BE HANDLED ONLY IN CHANNELS EXPRESSLY 

PROVIDED FOR COMINT. 

Enclosure 

a/s 

USCIB: 13. 7/28 
I 

USCIB DIRECTIVE NUMBER 15 ( CIBD # 15 ) 

(Approved by USCIB on ) 

EMERGENCY AND OPERATIONAL DISSEMINATION OF COMINT' 

I. PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Directive is to describe the emergency or 

operational conditions justifying exceptional dissemination of CCMINT 

and to prescribe the levels at which such exceptional dissemination 

may be performed and action taken thereon. 

II. DEFINITIONS 

A. Disguised COMINT - For the purposes of this Directive, 

disguised CClUNT is that Category III and II CCMINT from which the 

codeword has been removed and the subject matter so worded that the 

information contained cannot be traced specifically to CCMINT by nonindoctrinated persons (including foreign nationals). 

B. Suitable Cover - For the purposes of this directive, suitable cover is the existence of substantially similar information 

based upon a genuine, less sensitive source or an actual situation 

wherein the intelligence itself can be attributed beyond reasonable 

doubt to other sources or events by non-indoctrinated persons 

(including foreign nationals). 
III. SCOPE 

This directive is intended to apply only to situations involving Nationals of the United States of America and those countries 

which collaborate with the United States in CCMINT activities and 

provides for: (a) exceptional, emergency dissemination and use of 

·; 

Category III and II COMINT where no suitable cover exists and where 

there is not sufficient time to obtain the decision of USCIB in each 

case in advance; (b) exceptional operational dissemination and use 

of certain specified Category II Plain Text:. where no suitable cover 

exists; and (c) exceptional dissemination of Category I COMINT to 

certain allied nationals not included in the scope of this Directive. 

IV. POLICY 

A. Category III COMINT 

1. Upon determination by proper authority, as indicated 

below, that a case of extreme emergency exists, in which there is 

an imminent threat to the vital national interests of the United 

States, justifying exceptional handling of individual items of 

Category III COMINT; such COMINT items suitably disguised, may be 

disseminated to non-indoctrinated persons and/or action may be taken 

based solely on that COM.INT. 

- 2 -

Approved by USCIB on --------------- CIBD # 15 

TQ .. 

0 SECRET 
2a The lowest level of authorityl permitted to determine 

the existence or such an emergency condition are the .following2: 

a. Within the military establishment, 

(1) Commander of an Army 

(2) Canma.nder of a Naval Fleet 

(3) Commander of a Numbered Air Force 

b. Secretary of State 

c. Director, FBI 

d. Director of Central Intelligence. 

3. The exceptions described in Paragraph 1 above shall be 

made only upon a determination that the advantages to be gained 

clearly justify the risk of compromise of the CCMINT source and the 

extent of the loss which would probably follow such a compromise. 

In making this determination, due regard shall be given to: 

a. The availability of suitable covera 

b. The relative value of the particular CCMINT source 

involved and the possibility that its compromise may lead to 

the loss or other COMINT sources, particularly those which are 

more valuable. In this regard, the CCMINT support unit should 

1 This authority is to be exercised and decisions made personally by the 

incumbent or in his absence by that person duly authorized to succeed. 

2 Exceptions and limitations to this list shall, in each case, be 

specifically authorized by USCIB. (See Appendix A for current list of 

exceptions and limitations to the above list.) 

- 3 -

.Approved by USCIB on -------------- CIBD # 15 

TOP SECRET 
be requested. to furnish all pertinent available information 

that could assist the authority concerned in evaluating the 

effects of possible compromise. 

c. The possible repercussions on current and future 

operations and also on other commands and areaso 

B. Category II CCMINT 

1. Upon determination by proper authority as indicated 

below that a case of emergency exists which involves a matter of 

importance to the national security of the United States (or that 

conditions outlined in Paragraph Ao 1. above exist), justifying 

exceptional handling of individual items of Category II COMINT; 

such COMINT items, suitably disguised, may be disseminated. to nonindoctrinated persons and/or action may be taken based solely on 

that CCMINT. 

2. The lowest level of authorityl- permitted to determine 

the existence of such emergency conditions are the f ollowing2 : 

a. Within the military establishment, 

{l) Commander of an Army Corps 

(2) Commander of a Numbered ("Two-digit") 

Naval Task Force 

(3) Commander of a Numbered Air Force 

1 This authority is to be exercised and decisions made personally by the 

incumbent or in his absence by that person duly authorized to succeed. 

2 Exceptions and limitations to this list shall, in each case, be 

specifically authorized by USCIB. (See Appendix A for current list of 

exceptions and limitations to the above list.) 

-4-

Approved by USCIB on --------------CIBD II 15 

TOP SECRET 
'WP SFCREI' 

TOt' SECRET 

REF ID:A657. 

b. Department of State Member of USCIB 

c. Director, FBI 

d. CIA Senior Field Representative. 

3. Paragraph A. 3. above applies. 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

ED 3.3(h) (2) 

C. Category II Plain Text (Government, I .... ____ ..... l~d Private 

Plain Text Passed on 

L In non-emergency situations and upon determination by 

proper authority as indicated below, of a matter (subject) of sufficient importance, essential to operations directly related to the 

security of the United States, justifying exceptional handling of 

certain Category II Plain Text as specified from time to time by 

USCIB; such COMINT on that subject may be included in documents and 

operational directives not carrying a COMINT codeword and/or action 

may be taken based solely on that COMINT, provided there is adequate 

reason why the recipients should not be indoctrinated. 

2. The lowest level of authority permitted to make the 

above decision is the USCIB member of each member department or 

agency .. 

3. The exceptions described in Paragraph 1 above shall be 

made only under the following conditions: 

a. All precautions must be taken to ensure that COM.INT 

does not thereby come to the knowledge of foreign nationals 

not included in the scope ot this Directive; 

- 5 -

Approved by USCIB on --------------- CIBD # 15 

'fOP SECRET 
• TOPm¥iJ: A657~ 

• 

'f OP BEeflm 

b. The advantages to be gained are sufficiently great 

to justify the risk to the OOMINT source; 

c. The information could reasonably be attributed by 

non-indoctrinated persons (including foreign nationals) to 

other sources-agent, attache, defector, and the like; 

d. The OOMINT origin of the information is not stated. 

Whenever possible and plausible, the information shall be 

specifically attributed to other sources. 

D. Category I CCMINT 

1. Upon determination by proper authority that a requirement exists, during active hostilities or in the case of an emergency 

involving a matter of importance to the national security of the 

United States, Category I COMINT may be disseminated to nationals of 

countries who are engaged directly with the United States in these 

hostilities or are allied directly with the United States in dealing 

with the emergency concerned. 

2. The lowest level of authority! permitted to determine 

such a requirement are the f ollowing2: 

a. Within the military establishment, 

(1) Commander of an Anny Division 

1 This authority is to be exercised and decisions made personally by the 

incumbent or in his absence by that person duly authorized to succeed. 

2 Exceptions and limitations to this list shall, in each case, be 

specifically authorized by USCIB. (See Appendix A for current list of 

exceptions and limita~ions to the above list.) 

- 6 -

Approved by USCIB on --------------- CIBD # _l_.5..__ 

TOP SECRET 
(2) Commander or a Nava1 Task Group 

(3) Commander of an Air Division 

b. Department of State Member of USCIB 

c. FBI Member of USCIB 

d. CIA Senior Indoctrinated Field Representatives 

serving under USCIB Member. 

3. Whi1e it is desirable to keep Category I COMINT in 

COUNT channels, it may be disseminated to U.S. recipients in 

accordance with the rules governing intelligence materials or 

similar classification. 

4. It is recognized that the exceptional. dissemination 

authorized above will involve loss of control by COMINT authorities, 

but every ef'f'ort shall be made to ensure that the following provisions are enforced to the maxim.um extent possible: 

a. Whenever Category I COMINT is to be transmitted by 

a means exposed to interception, it shall normally be transmitted in an appropriate cryptographic system. It may be 

transmitted in plain 1anguage only when there is no suitab1e 

means of' secure communication available and when there is an 

urgent operational. need to do so. Whenever possible such 

plain language transmissions shall be in the form of operational orders so worded that the subject matter cannot be 

traced specifically to its COMINT origin. 

-7-

Approved by USCIB on --------------- CIBD # 15 

ror SECRB'F 
" 

TOP SECRET 

REF ID:A657. 

b. In taking action based on Category I COMINT, care 

shall be taken not to risk the COMINT source unnecessarily. 

Whenever possible, e£f orts shall be made to devise a suitable 

cover. 

V. PROCEDURF.S 

A. USCIB member departments or agencies taking action under 

any of the provisions outlined in Paragraph IV. A. or B., above, 

will, in each individual case, immediately furnish a report of such 

action, through appropriate channels to the Executive Secretary, 

USCIB. ThiEJ report shall contain a statement of circumstances and 

an identification of each individual Category III CCJUNT item 

involved. When Category II COMINT .is involved a general description 

of its extent and nature will suffice. 

B. 'Wherever Category II Plain Text is used as permitted in 

Paragraph IV. C. above, an immediate report of such use shall be 

made to the Executive Secretary, USCIB. This report will include 

identification of the CCMINT material used. 

C. A copy of such implementing directives as are· issued by 

individual USCIB member departments or agencies shall be furnished 

the Executive Secretary, USCIB for study and retention. 

D. The Executive Secretary, USCIB, shall inform other USCIB 

members of action reported in accordance with this directive and, 

in addition, shall inform foreign COMINT boards of action reported 

in accordance with Paragraphs IV. A. and B. above. 

- 8 -

Approved by USCm on -------------- CIBD # 15 

TOP SECR£'f' 
TOP SBSRB'f 

APPENDIX A 

TO 

USCIB DIRECTIVE NUMBER 15 ( CIBD # _&_) 

Currently Approved Exceptions and Limitations to the Lowest Levels of 

Authority. 

A. CATIDORY III COMINT 

For these purposes the 5th and 7th Independent Air Divisions 

are considered as Numbered Air Forces. 

(Approved by USCIB on ------~--

B. CATEOORY II COMINT 

1. For these purposes CIA Senior Field Representative is 

limited to those Representatives 

(Approved by USCIB on ________ ) 

2. For these purposes the 5th a.nd 7th Independent Air 

Divisions are considered as Numbered Air Forces. 

(Approved by USCIB on _______ ). 

'FOP SECRET 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

EO 3. 3 I h I I 2 I