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FOR 

TT!mD SCAG CONFERRNCE 

12-13 SEP.l'EMBER 1951 

(\':ITH m~CLOStJRES) 

APPENDED aocurAENT CONTAiNS 

.CODE WORD MATERIAL 

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AGENDA. 

for 

THIRD SCAG CONFERENCE 

12-13 Septembor 1951 

12 SeJ?!:ember 195,l.: 

PLACE: .ArDw Securit7 Agenc7 Conference Roam, Headquarters Bu:lldiJJg, 

Arlington Hall Station, Room 119. 

10:00 A.JI. to 10:15 A.1'. 

SCAG members to be presented to Jlajor General Ral~ J. canine, 

Director, Armed Forces Seaurit7 Agency and to 01'. Walter G. 

Whitman, Chairman, Resoarch an:l Devolopnent Board. 

* * * 

lO:lS A.II. to 12:00 ~ 

l. Approval of draft r.rinutes ot meeting of l,3 Juq 1951 (Encl. l). 

2. Discussion ot draft statement of mission of SCAG (Enol. 2). 

3. P.reeentat.1.on ao:l discussion of draft statement of task 

priorities (Encl. 3). 

4. Discussion of additiotsal membership. 

Wnch * * * * * * * * * * * in Executive Dining Room, Arlington Hall Station Cafeteria. 

* * * * * * * * * * * 

1:30 P.H. 

Il'ldividual conferences w.l.th representatives of AFSA on 't.asks. 

ll Se~ 1951 

2_:00 A.?'. to 12:00~ 

Individual co:nf'e~nces. 

2:00 P.1:!. - lbeting of SCAG, Room 119, Hq. Building, Arl.inltf;o~ Hall Station 

1. R's• ot individual conte:rences. 

2. Discussion of program tor period until next meeting. 

3. Establishment of date for nan meeting and preliminal7 

consideration ot agenda. 

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1J R A F T 

?~tes of a MeetiJ?! of the Special CrlJ>tologic Advisorz Groul? 

1. '!he members of SCAG spent two d;qs, Juq 10 am 11, going 

into the details of the main problem. Subsequent thereto the tollowing members ot SCAG met on July 12 to discuss organizational ca.tters: 

Dr. s~ Cairns, University of D.linois. 

Jbo. Joseph E. Desch, National Ca.sh Register Ccmparv. Dr. H. T. Engstran, Engineering Research Associates, Inc. 

Mr., John H. Howard, Burroughs Adding !!achine Company. 

Vro John c. McPherson, International Business Ma.chines Corp. 

Dr. Claude Shannon, Rell 'l'elepho:ne Laboratories. 

Hr. Fdwin A. Speakman, Research and Doveloi;:ment Board. 

D:r. Charles B. Tol?lpkins, George ?lashington University .. 

The foll01'ing meitbera of AFSA were also present at various times: 

Capt;D J. s. Harper. 

Dr. H. H. Campaigne. 

·Mr .. w. F. Friedman. 

!'r. ·O. R. Kirby. 

rr. F. B. Rowlett. 

2. A lengthy discussion took place concerning the desirabilit7 

ot formalising the activities of SOAG. During this diset·ssion, consensus of opinion imicated that the greatest contribution of SCAG 

members to the probloms of AFSA would probabl.y ba of an illdividual 

nature. All1" formalized organization or SCAG should in no way inhibit 

personal consultation rd.th members of AFSA or pereonal initiative in 

attacld.ng technical problems. However, it ms agreed that some f'ormal 

organization, including a secretariat to provide minutos ot discussions, 'WOUl.d bo desirable. '!be possibility of splitting SCAG into 

two groups - one to concentrate on ma.thema.tica1 problems and the 

other on t.'J.e engineering problems ~ uas considered. It \ms pointed. 

.out that J!1.a.n7 of the problems involved close collaboration 'tyatv.reen the analysts and the engineers and theretoro it would be dasirable tor 

SCAG to neet as a whole, although this in no wise precluded having 

mathematical and angineering subgroups. Further discussion of the 

formation of subeol:mittecs wa.s postponed until the next r.ieoting. 

3. The question o.r additional membership 1n SCAG was discussed. 

Certain problems gave indication or the desirability of asking a 

vacuum tube specialist to join the group. , This catter was also 

deterred until the next meeting. '!he possibilit;y ot including a 

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symbolic logician was discussed and it was agreed that this field 

was abq representod b7 Dr. Claude Shannon. All matters concerning 

additional. membership were deferred until the next meeting of SOAG. 

' 4. 11..atters of security were discussed and it was agreed to 

refer to the subject matter or the preceding d&¥'s meeting as tho 

main problem. Subse·•uent to the discussions in Paragraph 1, it 't'!as 

agreed that SCAG should elect a chairman. J!'r. Friedman inr1uired as 

to the possibilit7 of 1'1". Speakman acting in thia capacity. Ir. 

Speakman atatC3d that his position rdth the Research & Developnent 

Board precluded hie aceeptiny. the chairmanship. Upon ncmination b7 

Dr. Cairns, Dr. H. T. Engstrom was elected Chairman of SCAG. 

s. J!r. Friedman stated that AFSA would probably- set up some 

counterpart of SCAG vii.thin its orm organization in order to simplif7 

liaison between SCAG and AFSA. 

6. The time or the next meet:lng was diseuasad am it was agreed that the next. meeting would take place on September 12. Prior to 

this meeting, the Chair.man was charged with the responsibilit7 ot 

preparing the tollowing ~pera tor discussion: 

(a} A statement of the mission ot SCAG. 

(b) A statement or the priorities of the various problems 

presented to SCAG. 

(c) An agenda. for the neeting of Septe::iber 12. 

I+ 

H. T. F.ngetrom, 

Chairman, SOAG 

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ENCL. l 
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DRAFT 

12 Septer.iher 1951 · 

l'ission of ~e Special. qmtologic Advisorz_Q,roup (SCAGl 

1. '!be Spacial CrJptologio Advisory Group (SCAG) was sat up h7 the 

Research am Development Board at the suggestion of the Armsd. 

Forces Security Agency. Its fundamental objective is to provide 

advice and assistance to the .Armed Forces Security Agenc7 in 

meeting special problems in the general field of ccmmunicationa 

intelligence. In viet-r of its statutory :responsibilities in the 

\'Thole field of intell1gence, the Central Intelligence Agenc7 ha:s 

expressed a deep interest in SCAG. 

2. The members ot SCAG are ae tollCJW"B: W~ 

- "'-· :ur. 

Stili-t 

Joseph E. 

Cairns, 

Desch, 

University 

National 

ot 

Cash 

lllinois. 

Register Canpan,y. 

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VDr. H. T. Engstran, Engineering Research Associates, Inc. ~11:.~ v.Hr. John u. Ho;rard., Burroughs Ad.ding Machine Company. ri' 

"'11r. J. c. J!ePbsrson, International Business Iii.chines Corp. · 

·'-'1>r. R. K. Potter, Bell Telephone laboratories. C 

\/""'Dr. H. r~ Robertson, Central Intelligence Agenc7. .l.()A \ ~ -- Dr. 01.alid." Shannon, Bell Telephone laboratories. \~ vi llr. E. A. Speakman., Research and Dewlopnent Boa~d. 

V"'Dr. C. B. Tmpkins, George lVashington U11iversit;r. 

V"'Dr. John von Neumann, Institute for Advanced. JStud~, 

PrincetonJ '.fldm••*rJr\ r , 0 Vitr. 1"illiam. \•tebst.er, Former Chairman, Research am. 

Development Board. 

3 a :Members ot SCAG will be appointed jointly by the Chairman of the 

Research and Development Board and the Director of AFSA. It is 

understood. thnt the present SCAG members will consider needs for 

additional meJ:lbership and make recamn.onda:t.ions to the above agencies o 

4. It is reccgnizod that the problems facing AFSA in the field of 

CO!Jr.lunications intelligence are ot great complez.it7 and ot utmost 

importance. The Special C?7Ptologic Advism'J7 Group ms. formed t~ 

the tollCft"i.ng purposes: 

a. To provide advice an:J. assistance to AFSA in meeting special problems. 

b. To maintain familiarity with these specia1 proble.ms am 

make rec~tions to AFSA in connection 1r'lith their 

sclut.icn. , , 

c. J-c~~~~~·J.!C 

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5. '!be present membership ot SOAG gives representation of the various 

technical fields involved in the solution ot these problems, such 

as mathematics1 statistics, electronics and computing machineey. 

SCAG membership also includes il'ldi:viduals who are tam.liar Vii.th 

the latest industrial progress in fields 'Which mq be applicable 

to 1Ahese problems. 

WALTER G. \"ll{CT~"MT 

Chairman, Rese&l'ch ard 

Oevelopnent Board 

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RALPH' J • CA'f'T!r'E 

lkjor General, US Al"ftlV 

Director, Armed Forces 

Security Ageno7 

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Minutes or SCAG Conterence, 12-ll Sept.ember 1951 

1. a. 'lhe third SCAG conterence took pl.ace at Arlington Hall 

Station on 12-13 Septetlber 19.51. The f'ol.J.or·'ing SCAG members were 

present: 

Dr. H. T. Engstrom, Chairman 

Prof. s. s. Cairns 

Jlr o J. H. IIol'tard. 

Ur. Vim,. Webster 

Dr. C. B. Tanpld.na 

b. Absent SCAG members were: 

l'r. Joseph Desch 

Dr. H. P. Robertson 

Prot. J. von Neumann 

· Mr. J. o. l!cPheraon 

Dr. R. K. Potter 

Hr. E. A. Speakman 

Dr. C. Ea Sbannon 

c. '!be tollowine members ot AFSA v:ere also present at various 

times: 

:Maj. Gen. R. J. canine 

Rear Adm. J. N. Wenger 

1lr. \V. F. Friedman 

Mr. O. R. Kirby 

Dr. A. E. Highlq 

Jlr. F. A. Raven 

Capt. J. s. Harper 

Capt. J. S. Holtwick 

Mr. A. s. Levenson 

Dr. s. Kullback 

Dr. II. H. Campaigne 

Capt. J. Dennis 

d. SCAG mmbere were presented to the new Director, Armed Forces 

.security Ager1C7, Major General Ralph J. Canine, USA, and. to Dr. \'/alter G. 

l"hi tman, the new CJla.irma.n, Research ard Developnent Board, who attended 

the r.lorning session. 

2. 'nle r.iorning session on l2 September from 10:00 a.c. to 12:00 

noon ~·-as devoted to the discussion of' the follot ·ing .r.iatters presented b7 

the Chairman: 

a. ApP?'OV'al or dratt r.dnutes ot meeting ot ll Juq 1951. 

'!he draft or the ninutea was discussed am approved, vdth minor 

corrections. At the BUFgeation ot i~. Friedman, it v:as agreed that1 

tor purposes ot "cover" outside AFSA and RDB, the designation SCAG would 

be 'Ul'lderatood in 'the future to represent the abbl'eviation for 11Spec1a1 

Ca:ununications Adviaor,y Group". ?''ith respect to Item S ot the 15.nutes, 

llro Friedman reported that he mul.d be the representative ot AFSA tor 

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SCAG matters but that no further action had been taken in setting up a 

counterpart of SCAG within AFSA. Although it had been suggested previously th:lt a secretariat tor SCAG be established, Mr. Friedman 

pointed out the inadvisabilit7 ot taking such action at this timeo 

Dro Campaigne v:as designated to prepare notes of the discussions to 

assist in the preparation ot clnuteso 

b. Discussion of draft. statement ot mission ot SCAG. (See Enclosure 1. 

l'l". Hc'Alerson suggested an addition to Paragraph 4 of the . 

statement ot mission to read: "4c. To .furnish information on advances 

in outside fields of interest to the special problems of AFSA". It was 

pointed out that JIJ&JJ1' SCAG members have access to knowledge ot technical advances which mip,ht prove of importance in the solution of AFSA 

problems. Arter discussion, ?fr. f!cPherson• a eur.gested addition \'!&8 

adopt,ed. Some SCAG members, particularly r-:r. John Ho~·-ard, l'Tere ot the 

opinion that the statement of mission should be expamed or supplemented by a more detailed atatemnt ot the mechanics by \'lhich SCl\G 

members m:y beat carry out the mission. After .t'ull discussion, Or. 

Engstrom and Mr.. John Howard were requested to dratt a schedule tor 

supplementing the atatement ot mission. A pa.per by Professor S. 8 0 

Cairns, entitled "Camnent.s on SCAG", dated July' 23, 1951, waa read in 

connection with the diacuesion and made a pa.rt or the record. (See 

Enclosure 2.) 

Co Presentation an1 discuaeion ot dratt statement ot task 

pr1oritieso (See EnCiosure 2.) 

The draft statement ot task priorities was presented and led 

to extensive discussion. Although it was generall;y agreed that the 

priorities \'1'8re correct.ly set, it was also the consensus of opinion that the problems as stated were close4' inter=related am that there 

would therefore be dif'ficult:y in separating these problems with an:r 

degree ot cOiilpleteness. 'lbe Chairman pointed out tbat one ot the 

primar.v purposes of presenting this statel!lent or priorities 1r.lS to 

pemit imividual SCAG mer.i.bers to devote their t:ime during the tw-dq 

session to those particular problema in "Which t.he7were individualJT 

interested or .mcist c0C1petent. Atter general discussion, however, it 

appeared tha'f# the SCAG mer.i.bers pref erred to consider the problems o.s a 

whole rather than to separate a1'ld consider them individual.17. Ii# was 

therefore decided to spe:rd the afternoon of 12 September on Paragraph 1 

am the morning ot 13 September on Paragraph 2. '!'he .formal session ot 

SCAG adjourned ~til 2:00 p.mo, 13 Septernbero 

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do Qiscuseion ot problems ot interception. 

It has been indicated that AFSA haa ma117 critical problems in 

the tield ot intereeptiona In tact, certain opinion has it that 

aolutiC?n of questions on qualit7 am quant1t7 in traffic T'Ould relieve 

tremerdousIT the technical burden in the analytical areas. Although there ms 8Cll1e question ot the cognizance ot SCAG in this tield, the 

problem was tull.J' discussed. '!he major difticulty" appears centered in 

the personnel problem, t:ith both the lack ot trained personnel and the 

rotation polic7 of the military .mentioned as critical items. Dr. 

Potter, in pa.rticular, pointed out the technical possibilities in connection with late developnents in such field.a as search receivers a.rd. 

antenna design. '!here was an expressed. teel.ing that the interception 

problems ot AFSA are of such a special nature that developments .tar 

atraight carmnunicatiompurposes were 1nsutt1cient to meet AFSA•a needao 

It was agreed to discuss the subject further at the subsequent meeting 

on 13 September o 

Afternoon Seseion 

3. After discussion ot the individua1 technical problems described 

in the statement ot task priorities, SOAG reconvened. at 1330, 13 September o 'lbe following members were present: 

Dro Ito T. F.ngatrom, Chairman 

Prof. s. s. Cairna 

J.fr. Jo H. Howard 

Dro C. B. Tanpldm 

Dr. H. P. Robertson 

Prof o Jo YOD Neumann 

Mr. J. c. Jl.cPherson 

l~. E. Ao SpeakmaA 

The foll.aw1ng AFSA members were also present: 

J.fr 0 w 0 p 0 Friedman 

Capt. J. So Harper 

Dr. II. Ho Campa.igne 

Capt. Jo !lennia 

4o The diacussion centered around the individual problems contained in the iriorit;r list (Encloaure 3) in the light ot preaentationa 

ot these problems by AFSA peraomiel during the preceding tl'TO days. 

· Although it was agreed that informal. viaita ot SCAG members to AFSA 

1'IO\l1d be moat helpfu1 in the solution ot these problems, the tollO\":ing 

apecitic reccmnemations were made: 

ao Since the requirements tor ultra-highspeed. ccmputation h1' AFSA 

exceed by' a large margin the requiremnte of' other agencies, it ia 

deemed necessary- that a pr'ogram. ot basic research into ultra-bighspeecl 

electronics be initiated. and supported b)" AFSA. 

b. '!hat basic research be a continuing subject on the agenda of 

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c. In cormection •"ith Paragraph 1 or the statement ot task 

priorities1 it was agreed that the methods ot exhaustion1 or scritching, 

was subject to abstract exposition. It l"&S reccmnended that AFSA 

attempt to prepare an abstract of this problem on the SECRF.T level1 in 

order that. it. ma.7 be considered. h1' the SCAG members prior to the next 

r.ieeting. 

do In connect.ion ··ith Paragr°aph 3 ot the statement ot task 

priorities, it was recommended that AFSA prepare a report on the numerous methods suggested am that prier to the next neeting1 the following 

SCAG members - McAlerson, Desch, Howard ard Potter - review the 

report and r.iake recor!!Clendations. 

e. Paragraph 4 ot the task priorit7 statement was discussed. am 

referred to Dro Potter an:l Dr. Shannon for consideration. 

to The intercept problems of AFSA were again discussed. Capt. 

Dennis anl!l·rerect questions concerning trarric volumes and other statistics. After thorough discussion1 it was agreed. that Dra Potter should 

look into the question to see ii" SCAG should give it further consideration. 

S. a. '!be question ot additional membership in SCAG ns thoroughly' discussed. The follo, i.ng names were mentioned. during the 

discussion: 

Deane l'ontganery 5aundera Ma.cLane 

Stanislas Ul.am 

Jlarsball stone 

Uark rrac 

Dav.id. mackwell 

Sam Wilks 

Robert Ferner 

A. N. Skellet 

D. Ho Lehmer 

Bakeley Rosser 

Ralph Palmer 

John Coamb11 

J&7 Forrester 

Irwin Travis 

F o E. Terman 

Ralph ?:eager 

b. It was agreed that a ccxmnittee consisting or Qigstraa1 

Robertson am McPherson would give the problem ot additional memberahipa 

turt.her studJ', and with probable reduction in the number or candidates, 

this corr.dttee to report at the next meeting ot SCAG. 

60 Further consideration was given to the expansion ot the SCAG 

J:d.ssion. The desirabilit7 of a group serving AFSA in a capacity 

eim1lar tQ. the Board. of Visitors at the U. s. Na.val Academ;y aD1 at other 

educational centc.re was considered. 'lbe names ot Adcliral Joseph E; 

Redman ot Western Union1 and Mr. 'lhcmas E. \Vataon1 Jr., of IBV, were 

mentioned. It \418.S the consensus of SC.AG members that its mission was 

ot a t.echnical na.t.ure and the question or a Board of Visit.ora tor AFSA 

was a separate issueo 

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7 o Some consideration was given to the r.x>st desirable .frequency 

or SCAG meetings. In general, meetings about three or tour ti.mas per 

year vrere considered optimum. 'lhe next meeting was set tor 'I'hursda,y 

am Friday, December 6 and 7, 19510 

H. T. Engstrom Chairman~ SCAG 

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