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REF ID:A66029 

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CENTRAL INTEIJ.IG'ENCE AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

21 May 1951 

MEMORANDUM FOR: Director. Armed Forces Security Agency 

SUBJECT: Dr. Claude E. Shannon 

Enclosed herewith for your information is a copy 

of the reply received from Bell Telephone Laboratories on the 

subject of Dr. Shannon's services. 

/s/ K. Douglass 

Enclosure 

COPY 

KINGMAN DOUGLASS 

Assistant Director, 

Current Intelligence 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 09-23-2014 pursuantto E.O. 1352a 
' .. REF ID:A66029 

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BELL TELEPHONE L.4.BORATORIFS 

Incorporated 463 West Street, New York 14., N. Y. 

M. J. Kelly 

President 

CHelsea 3-1000 

LT. !JEN. WAL~ B. SM:rI'H, Director 

. 

Centra~ Intelligence Agency 

Washington 25, D. c. 

Dear General Smith: ,_ 

May ll, 1951 

This is in response to your letter of May k, 1951 

raising a question about the participation of 

Dr. Claude E. Shannon in a particular field in which your 

Agency is interested. This matter has had some discussion ~ong Capt. Wep.ger or AFSA, Dr. Douglas of CIA and 

Dr. R. K. Potter of our Laboratorie~ and I believe there has 

been agreement that Dr. Shannon's participation in the 

program would be explored as soon as his clearance could be 

arranged. More recently, Dr. John Von Neumann or Princeton 

has been in touch with Dr. Shannon in this connection. so we 

assume the security aspect of the matter has been cared for. 

While there have been several other approaches to 

enlist Dr. Shannon's services in connection with military 

activities and it has been our judgment that, in general, 

he could best contribute in his particular field by carrying 

on his researches independently, the matter with which your 

letter deals is of a more compelling nature and we shall, 

therefore, be glad to encourage and assist Dr. Shannon in 

participating to the extent of the preliminary examination 

you suggest. During this phase, we propose that Dr. Shannon's 

services be contributed by the Laboratories, with reimbursement 

to him by the Government for incidental travel and living 

expenses. Ir this preliminary review indicates the need for 

Dr. Shannon's continued participation in the program, we should 

like to reconsider with you the e.xt.ent and scope o:r such 

participation and the basis on which it should be arranged. 

I trust this will be agreeable to you and I assure you or our 

desire to be helpful. 

Sincerely yours, 

/s/ Mervin J. Kelly 

President 
COPY 

REF ID:A66029 

COMIDENTIAL 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

MAY 16 1951 

MEMORANDUM FOR DIRF.CTOR, ARMED FORCES SF.CURITY AGENCY 

SUBJECT: 

REFERENCE: 

Special Cryptologic Advisory Group (SCAG) 

AFSA-OOT/dk Serial 0297 dated 8 May 1951 

In response to your memorandum. of a May, I have talked 

with Dr. M. J. Kelly, President, Bell Telephone Laboratories 

with reference to securing the services of Dr. C. E. Shannon. 

Dr. Kelly was very cooperative, and I am. sure that he will do 

everything possible to have Dr. Shannon serve as a member of 

SCAG. 

In accordance with your request, we are forwarding 

invitations to members of SCAG as listed in your memorandum. 

In addition, we have included Mr. John H. Howard of the 

Burroughs Adding Y.achine Company, Philadelphia in accordance 

with your verbal request to Mr. Speakman. An invitation will 

also be sent to Dr\ Shannon as soon as your office advises us 

that he has been cleared. 

The proposed agenda covers the area very well, and I 

shall be pleased to address the group at the appropriate time. 

I believe this conference will be very important. and I want 

to assure you of full support of the Research am Development 

Board in this endeavor. 

Thie document contains information 

affecting the national defense of the 

United States within the meaning of 

the Espionage Laws, Title lS, U.S.C., 

Sections 793 and 794. The transmission or the revelation of its contents in any manner to an unauthorized 

person is prohibited by law. 

/s/ Wm. Webster 

WIIJ..IAM WEBSTER_ 

Chairman 

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