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y.s. P:l¥156 ONfi¥ 

SUBJECT NUMBER 

USCIB: 29 .19/24 

Subject: 

Item 2 of the Agenda for the 2st.h Meeting of USCIBEC, 

held on 22 April 1955. 

COMINT Relations with l .... ____ t 

The CHAIRMAN (Captain Taylor), pointing out that th.e Director, NSA 

has made certain suggestions regarding the enclosure with USCIB 2!J.19/19, 

said that he would also like to hear the views of the Air Force and Ar'llf3" 

members. 

LT. COLONEL HARROLD said that the Air Force has two.main points. 

First, he said, he objected to the implication that we might have to pay 

for a site survey. He said his second point concerns possible complete 

reliance on British coverage, while the Air Force and NSA each have a 

stated requirement for U.S. COMINT coverage in that area. It was his 

opinion that the problem should be approached without consideration ot 

either of these elements. 

CAPTAIN HOLTWICK, commenting on the first point, sa;i.d that he agreed 

with Lt. Colonel Harrold. He noted that this would be the first time a 

price had been considered in connection with a site survey. 

MR. POLYZOIDES thought it a remote possibility that I I might 

demand payment, pointing out that the letter to Ambassador Hildreth does 

not hint of such an arrangement. 

The CHAIRMAN asked if, in view of the discussion, Lt Colonel 

Harrold wished to recommend any changes in the paper. 

LT. COLONEL HARROLD answered affirmatively, but said that he would 

first like to make another point on the subject of payment. for ; R:· te 

survey. He explained that we have additional interests llJ! land 

said that he would pref er not to set a precedent whereby we woua ave to 

pay in each instance. As a change to the NSA paper he proposed that 

paragraph Ja be amended by deletion of the second sentence, and rewording 

of the third sentence to read: 11If payment for the privilege to conduct 

a survey is asked, the U.S. should not offer anything." 

The CHAIRMAN suggested the possibility of deleting both the second 

anq third sentences of this paragraph, recognizing that their main 

p11rpose is to cover any eventuality in advance. 

MR. POLyzomES pointed out that if the eventuality were to occur the 

matter would still have to be decided by the Board. 

USCIB: 29.19/24 -4-

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 05-14-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 

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USCIB: 29.19/24 

It was agreed to delete sentences two and/three of paragraph 3a, 

until it was brought out that ~he paper.in qU.estion .contained only the 

views of the Director, NSA and was not, per se, subject to amendment by 

the Committee. The members thereupon agreed to indicat.e that they see 

no necessity for the inclusion of .the two/Sentences mentioned. 

The members then discussed paragraph 3c of the NSA paper, the first 

porion of r:tμch sugg.·ests t.· hepossibili.· ·.·ty of U.K. int.ercep·. t facilities 

in meeting a large part of the/ U.S. requirements\ there. While 

consideration of such a possibility was deemed necessary, \the members 

believed it unli:t.<:el.v that the projected U.S. requirement for CCMINT from 

U.S. bases inl/ I would ever be/met by U.K.f • !facilities. 

It was agreedthat consideration of /this possibiity sh:; not prejudice 

~s n1 •rni:hg, and t.hat. ponding 1;hoi out.come of t.he sit.a survey in I ft.he establishment and operation of a U.S. CO~UNT installation 

here should be regarded as an/integral part of the overall plan for 

providing full support to the.National COMINT effort. 

Reference was then ma.de to the last sentence of paragraph 3c which 

provides that if U.S. sitesiare procurable only at the. price of releasing 

materials and information.the-amount of such materials and information 

released should not exceed that authorized forl Fitil it has been 

ascertained whet.her ac,ept·····able alternate sites can be obtained in other 

countries nea~ _. 

In the discussion o.£ this point it was suggested tha.t such an 

arrangement might well permit one country to play against the other in 

their search for equipment, nevertheless, it was agreed to recommend 

acceptance of the views prepared by NSA as a proper statement subject to 

the understanding that question of alternate sites should not at this 

time be at1owed to rrejudge the limits of collaboration suitable with 

regard to~ . . 

USCIBEC was of the unanimous opinion that in recommending acceptance 

by USCIB of the principles embodied in the enclosure with USCIB 29.19/19 

future actions in the premises would not be prejudiced. 

DECISION: (22 April 1955) USCIBEC agreed to reconunend that USCIB accept 

the enclosure with USCIB 29.19/19 with the understandings reached by 

USCIBEC in its discussion of the paper. These understandings, in essence, 

are as follows: 

a. Since the question of payment for the privilege of making a 

site survey has not arisen in the past, it probably won't arise in this 

case. If it should, the matter would have to be considered on its merits 

at the time. Since the Director, NSA would bring such a contingency to 

the attention of the Board in the normal course of events, there appears 

to be no need to try to provide for such a contingency at this time. 

USCIB: 29.19/24 - 5 -

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MF sm:B!Q0321 

'l'OP HGR8£ Y.S. EDS ONLY 

USCIB: 29.19/24 

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b. Co·n·····s·· idefyti6n of fhe possibi···lity .·t· h.a.· ,t U •.. S •.. re· .. quirements might be met by U.K. _ _facilities/does/not prejudice in advance 

U.S. pla.ijnil'l.g/on this point. Pending.· the ou.·:tca.·me of .. • the. si .. te survey in I _J the establishment and operation Of/ a iU.S. CCMINT \installation 

there should be regarded as an integral part of the overall·plan for 

providing full support to the National COONT/eff'ort. In this connection, 

the Committee considered it unli:kely that/any major portion of the 

projected U.S. requirement for COMINT f:t"Oin U.S. bases i~ \ !would 

ever be met by U.K.~ ~acilities. }iowever, the Committee 

recognized that the pressures of men and money render consideration of 

such a possibility necessary. 

c. The eventuality of' I !attempting to exact as\ price in 

return for U.S. COMINT bases a deqree of CCMINT col.·laboration in·.excess 

o:r that now authorized r or I r should not at this point in time be 

judged as warranting an immediate search for alternate sites in \.o ... t ... h""'e""'r.....__...., 

countries, but rather to warrant increased efforts to obtain froml ........... __ __. 

an acceptable bargain. USCIBEC agrees th,t as thifgs now stand quid pro 

quo should not exceed that authorized for ___ __.... 

•• USCIB: 29.19/24 - 6 -

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