USCIB: 9 • 2/34 

26 April 1955 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEM.BERS OF USCIBEC: 

Subject: Alerting the Highest Authorities. 

References: (a) USCIB 5/460 dated 30 July 1953. 

(b) USCIB 13/357 dated 5 August 1953. 

(c) YSGI& 5.6/2 dated 10 January 1955. 

/N7COl'1\ 

1. Reference (a) referred to the Intelligence Committee the matter 

of preparing recommendations concerning a method of alerting the highest 

authorities with respect to crucial COMlNT items. 

2. The Central Intelligence Agency, in:August of 1953, advised 

USCIB that it was undertaking a survey to determine the adequacy o:r 

existing alerting mechanisms within the intelligence community. CIA 

recommended that COMINT be included in the survey and requested concurrence of the USCIB members. USCIB, at its. 90th Meeting in September o:f 

1953, approved the CIA proposal that the communicAtions intelligence 

components of the departments and agencies of USCIB should be included 

in the survey of alerting procedures being undertaken b-,r the CIA, with 

the cooperation of the members ot the Intelligence Advisory Committee, 

provided that insofar as COMINT might be concerned, the scope of the 

survey be confined to the mechanisms existing within the continental 

limits of the United States and would be concerned primarily with the 

means and methods for alerting the responsible authorities of the 

government. after an item containing possible alert information has 

reached Washington. In addition to approving the procedure for handling 

the COMINT portion of the survey, USCIB agreed that the CIA, through its 

member on the Intelligence Connnittee, should keep the Conunittee advised. 

of the nature and progress of this survey. The initial survey was 

considered inadequate by the CIA member of USCIB and the whole matter 

is being pursued further by the NSC Committee mentioned in the enclosed 

INTCOM report. 

3. Meanwhile a National Indications Center has been established 

to provide a 24-hour watch ser1d.ce and serve as a receiving center for any 

intelligence information that may require immediate attention of the 

members of the ~vatch Committee of the Intelligence Advisory Committee. 

Arrangements have been made to provide directly by teletype to the NIC 

copies of COMINT items which might contain inf orma.tion warranting an 

alert. The NIC, upon receipt of a crucial item, is geared to immediately 

place the item before the Chairman of the Watch Committee. Such items, 

with the Watch Committee 1 s evaluation and conclusion, go from the Watch 

Commitl:.ee to the IAC to the National Security Council, or as directed by 

the Chairman of the Watch Connnittee. 

USCIB: 9. 2/34 HMVBI.Ei 7v'IA OGMIPff' SIIA:NNEf.S ONL¥ 

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eclassifi ed and a ro d for rel ea e b SA on 11-04-2014 ursuant to E .0. 13 2 
USCIB: 9. 2/34 

4I'OP SECRElf 

Subject: 

26 April 1955 

Alerting the Highest Authorities. 

4. As this matter appears to be receiving active attention from 

competent authority it is recommended that the enclosed report by the 

Intelligence Com.Tilittee be approved. 

5. Members are requested to execute the attached vote sheet and 

return it to this office by close of business Wednesday 11 May 1955. 

Enclosure 

INT # 0003 dtd 22 Apr 1955 

USCIB: 9. 2/34 - 2 -

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' 

~1l57883 e 

INT II 0003 

22 April 1955 

!OP SEie.REH' ,,. ·".:.i~:.r ?1'-... ~ .... -:; -.~~ 

.-· 

I1E:l()&\.NDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. usc:m 

Subject: 

References: 

Alerting the Highest Authorities Concerning Crucial 

Items 

(a) USCIB 5/460 dated 30 July 1953 

(b) USCIB 13/357 dated 5 August 1953 

(c) USCIB 5.6/2 dated 10 January 1955 

1. The Intelligence Committee considered this matter in the 

light of the above references at its Twenty-seventh Meeting on 

21 April 1955. 

2. The CIA Member of DITCOM briefed the Committee on the 

latest developments concerning this subject, pointing out that 

a National Security Council committee was examining the fund.a.-

mental aspects of the alerting problem and had established 

15 May 1955 as a target date for submission of its recommenda.-

tions. 

3. Ilri'COI-l accordingly recommends that: 

a. Further action by USCIB on the method of alerting 

the highest authorities be withheld pending the recommendations 

of' the NSC committee. 

b. The CI.A. Member of USCIB be requested to furnish 

pertinent recommendations of the NSC committee to the Executive 

Secretary. 

c. The matter be dropped by the Intelligence Committee 

pending further instructions. 

~ # (!.,,. ,~...--- ...... - "''*"2. 

H. C. SD-MJNS 

Lt. Colonel, USAF 

Chairman, INTCOM 

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