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USCIB: 2$.2/1 

3 May 1954 

Ml!MORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: Release of AFSAM-7 to NATO Nations. 

1. The enclosure is forwarded for consideration by vote sheet 

action. 

2. It is requested that your views on the recommendation contained in paragraph 6 of the enclosure be indicated on the attached 

vote sheet and returned to this office by 1700, 13 May 1954. 

Enclosure 

NSA Serial 000206-S dtd 26 Apr 1954, 

w/enclosure. 

REPRODUCTION OF THIS DOCUMENT IN WHOLE OR 

PART IS PROHIBITED EXCEPT WITH PERMISSION 

OF THE ISSUJNG OFFICE. 

~,. +;~ 

~PB gf :USCS.i-... 

USCIB: 2$ • 2/1 

\ 

'FOP SBORET 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 04-21-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
!P9P Gl:CRJ:T 

NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 29, D. C. 

Serial! 000206-S 

26 Apr $4 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIB 

SUBJECT: Release ot AFSAM-7 to NATO Nations 

l. On 23 March 1954, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Sta.ff gave final 

approval to the report of the 1953 UK-US Commun:l.cat:l.ons Security Conference. By this action, proposals previously approved by the 

U.S. for ottering the cipher ma.chine AFSAM-7 to NATO as a replace• 

ment for the CCM became a matter- of combined UK•US agreement. The 

plan, in brief, calls for the introduction of the ADONIS cryptoprinc:l.ple embodied :l.n the AFSAM-7 and AFSAM-47B into the medium and 

high levels of NATO by m:l.d-1956. The plan also provides for ultimate 

lower level use, i.e., in the low echelons where communications are 

basically national in character. 

2. I have received from the British Cryptographic Liaison 

Officer a letter stating that, in the course of consideration of the 

1953 COMSEC Conference Report by the cognizant UK authorities, LSIB 

approved the release of AFSAM-7 for international NATO communicati~s. 

3. In addition, separately from the Report, UK consideration 

was given to the release of AFSAM·7 for the national communications 

ot NATO nations, since it was thought that sooner or later such use 

would prove necessary. This further release has been approved by 

the Cypher Policy Board and has also been approved by LSIB "when the 

need arises and provided that USCIB has no obJection." This is 

approval in principle and is not concerned with the t:l.ming of the 

release. 

4. The Secretary, Cypher Polic1 Board, has requested that he 

be informed if and when USCIB approves in principle the release of 

AFSAM-7 to NATO nations for national communications.and also if end 

when a decision is made to release an:r of the machines. 

9:eP SIQDW CONTROL NUMBER S4-Sl4A 

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'• 5. It seems to me that release of the AFSAM-7 for international NATO communications, as well as for national military 

purposes, makes approval for other national uses largely an academic 

question insofar as protection of cryptoprinciples is concerned. It 

follows almost certainly that with the issue of a substantial qdantit1 

pf machines to Belgium, for example, some of them, or reproductions 

thereof, will find their way into national non-military uses. This 

is to be expected and could not be prevented in any case. Further- ~ore, use of the AFSAM-7 for national communications is in keeping 

with our general objective of improving the communications security 

pf NATO nations. 

6. I recommend, therefore, tha.t USCIB approve in principle 

the release of the AFSAM-7 to NATO nations for the national as well 

as the international communications of those countries. Approval 

of this action by USCIB is not considered to be a U.S. commitment 

to provide machines for national use. 

7. A proposed reply is inclosed for codsideration. 

~~~L~ 

Incl: 

Draft Reply 

Copies furnished: 

Members of USCSB 

cc: AG 

c/s 

P/P 

DD/COMSEC 

RA J CANINE 

Lieutenan Ge eral, US Army 

Dire tor 

'!OP GHeFUfi' SONTROL NUMBER 54-514A 

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