USCIB: 9. 2/30 

9 February 1955 

TQP S!GHSP 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEMBERS OF USCIB: 

Subject: 

Reference: 

C<lUNT Capability to Provide Early Warning of a CHICOM 

Attack on Formosa. 

USCIB 9.2/28 of 1 February 1955. 

l. The enclosure with the reference was approved by all members 011 

the evening of 7 February 1955 and transmitted to the Secretary of 

Defense on the morning of 8 February 1955. 

2. The National Security Agency member indicated that he would 

pref er several changes to Tabs A and C of the enclosure with the reference, but wouldrnot hold up approval of it on that account. These 

changes have been notified to the Office of the Secretary of Defense for 

background information in preparing action and are as indicated in the 

enclosure herewith. 

3. The Chairman directed that quotation marks be inserted around 

the words "invasion season" in the last line of paragraph 1 of the 

enclosure with the reference so as to avoid the possibility of creating 

an impression that USCIB may be predicting an invasion. This was done. 

4. It is understood that the Office of the Secretary of Defense 

will keep the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency 

informed, through COMINT channels, of its actions in this matter. 

Enclosure 

NSA Serial 808 dtd 8 Feb 1955 

USCIB: 9 .2/30 H:AfiBLE 1JIA COM:Elff' CHMINII:B ONti! - Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 03-19-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 

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NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, USCIB 

Serial: 808 

8 FEB 1955 

SUBJECT: Early Warning of CHICOM. Attacks in the Formosa Area 

As indicated in telephonic notification to your office on 7 

February 1955 regarding USCIB 9.2/28, the Director, NSA, considers 

the draft correspondence, addressed to the Secretary of Defense, 

to be an adequate means of continuing progress on this urgent 

matter. In order to avoid any unnecessary delays, he approves the 

draft notwithstanding certain changes which he would consider 

advisable if time were to permit. Those changes are described in 

the inclosure, and it is hoped that the members of USCIB will have 

an opportunity to consider them before reaching a final decision 

on the draft. 

Incl: 

Director, NSA, comments 

on USCIB 9.2/28 

(SIGNED) 

J. S. HOLTWICK, Jr. 

Captain, US Navy NSA Member, USCIBEC 

Enclosure with USCIB 9.2/30 dtd 9 Feb 1955. 

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. 

Comments by the Director, NSA, Regarding; 

The Draft Correa ondence Inclosed 

With USCIB: 9.2 28 

1. The subject of the draft correspondence should be changed to 

read as follows: 11US CO~UNT Capability to Provide Early Warning l)f 

Chinese Communist Attack in the Formosa Area. 11 A similar change should 

be made in the first sentence of paragraph l of the draft. 

2. The following should be added at the end of paragraph l of 

the draft: 

"So far as USCID can determine, there is little expectation ot 

getting reliable early warning information from any source other 

than OOMINT. 11 

J. The following should be inserted between the second and third 

sentences of paragraph 2 of the draft: 

. "Although the requirement for additional U.S. COMINT resources in 

Formosa and in other Far East locations has long been recognized, and 

although appropriate plans have been developed to meet that requirement, 

it has not yet been possible to complete the necessary base rights negotiations." Eo 3. 3 (h) (2) 

PL .. 86-36/50 USC 3605 

4. In Tab A or the dra~, the second sentence of paragraph (a) 

should be changed to read as follows: 

5. The following should be added at the end of paragraph (a) o.f 

Tab Az 

6. The first sentence of paragraph (b) of Tab A should be changed 

to read as follows: 

"For the same reason, we have a high interest in the results of 

any additional technical analysis of these materials." 

7. In paragraph 2 of Tab C, the final sentence should be deleted. 

i'0P V- OONTIDL NllMBER 55021!2-A 

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7. The third and fourt.h sentences of "paroera.ph 3 of 'ra.b 0 should 

b~ chan~ed to rend es follows: 

EO 3 . 3 ( h) ( 2 ) 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

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