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USCIB: 23/74 

20 

29 July 1953 

MB!MORANDUM FOR TEE li§iMB.ERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: Allied (NATO) Communications Security. 

l. Pursuant to USCIB decision at the Eighty-eighth 

Meeting, the members of the Special Committee of the 

National Security Council for COMINT have been informed of 

the results of the US-UK Conference on the above subject. 

2. A copy of the memorandum. of information is 

forwarded herewith for your file. 

Enclosure 

1 copy of GIB # 000109 

dtd 23 July 1953. 

USCIB: 23/74 

US L. R 

aptain, U. s. Navy 

""'"''-tive Secretary, USCIB 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 07-07-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 

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EO 3.3(h)(2) 

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 25, D.C. 

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 

'i'OP f!jj9REH' GANOE = SESBRg'Y WQHMtA'ION 

GIB # 000109 

23 July 1953 

MEMORANDUM OF INFORMATION FOR THE Sf.ECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE 

NATION.AL SECURITY COUNCIL FOR COMINT: 

Subject: Al.lied (NATO) Cormnunications Security. 

1. On 9 June 1953 the Chairman, United States Communications Intelligence Board (USCIB) forwarded to the Special Commi ttee a brief resum~ of subject problem together with the 

information that a conference of representatives of USCIB and of 

the London Signal Intelligence Board (LSIB) opened in Washington 

on 5 June 1953 to consider the entire problem of the security of 

the diplomatic and military communications of the NATO nations. 

2. The conference concluded its deliberation on 12 June 

1953 and submitted a report which was approved by USCIB with 

minor reservations on 10 July 1953. 

3. It was agreed that the national communications of the 

various NATO nations are vulnerable to a varying degree and that 

they may at any time carry information which would be inimical 

to the best interests of the US and UK if it came into the lmm1-

ledge of the USSR. This is articular true of diplomatic communications 

4. The conference concluded that: 

a. 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

Steps must be taken to improve the national communications of NATO nations, starting with the 

French. 

-1-

Enclosure with USCIB 23/74 dated 29 July 1953. 

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--OP Soccl\n 1 lJ/\.r~vEe SiQJP.l!R' 1Hf0ftttflt'f'leH 

E0~.3(h)(2) 

PL 86.::36/50 USC 3605 

Subject: Allied (NATO) Communications Secliri~y. 

GIB # 000109 

23 July 1953 

--------------------------------- b. Such steps must not lead to direct disclosure of 

I I 

cryptanalytic techniques beyond those already published in connnercially available material or known 

to be within the capacity of the cryptanalytic organization of the NATO nations concerned. 

c. The actions taken should be calculated to prevent 

the leakage of effective communications security 

principles to non-NATO nations. 

5. A course of action was reconnnended by the conference to 

accomplish the following: 

a. Early improvement of French communications security. 

b. Subsequent action through the communications security machinery of the Standing Group of NATO to .improve communications security of other NATO nations 

as necessary. 

6. In approving the report of the conference USOIB named the 

Department of State the cognizant US authority to arrange for an app~oach to the French Government and agreed that: 

a. UK authorities would be notified. 

b. No member would be estopped from raising the question 

of desirability of using other than NATO channels 

after negotiations with the French have been undertaken. 

c. That this problem will be reviewed by the Board at 

approximately one year from date. 

FOR THE UNITED STATES COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE BOARD: 

/s/ Allen w. Dulles 

ALLEN W. DULLES 

Chairman 

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