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uscm: 29.1/27 

6 July 1954 

. '!!9P 8!10.RB! 

MJM)RANDUM FOR THE MEM3E9S OF USC~: 

. ... - ·- Subject: Program to Improve the Communications Security or 

NATO Countries. 

Re£erences: (a) USCIB 29.1/l dated 21 September 195.3 

(b) Enclosure 1 with USCIB 29.1/26 dated 28 June 1954 

1. Attached is a memorandum tram the Cha1rma.n 0£ the Ad Hoc 

Committee for the Improvement 0£ Allied (NATO) Communications Security 

recommending that USCIB (a) approve the release to the French, by the 

UK, of TYPEX-22 off-line cryptographic equipments for use in French 

"secondary" diplomatic posts, and (b) approve in principle the UK 

monitoring, for COM3EC purposes, 0£ French comnnmications at French 

request, subject to further USCIB consideration o£ such concrete proposals along t}l.ese lines as are made by the British in the Cambined 

Working Group. 

2. The Senior UK Liaison Officer has expressed a desire to 

obtain USCIB 1s views £or f'orwarding to I.BIB as soon as convenient. 

. J. Members are requested to execute the attached vot.e sheet 

and return it to this office prior to 1700, 12 Jul.y 1954.· 

Rn.closure - a/s 

USCIB: 29.1/27 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 04-18-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 

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24 
.. TO~~REfll61112 

2 July 1954 

MliMJRANDUM FOR THE CHAIRMAN, USCIB 

Subject: Progrmn to Improve the Camm.unications Security of NATO 

Countries. 

Reference: USCIB 29.1/l of 21 September 1953 

Enclosure 1 of USCIB 29.1/26 of 28 June· 1954 

1. The referenced report notes, mnong other things, that 

during the tripartite technical talks ending on 1 Mq, the UK representatives indicated willingness to attempt to help the French in 

solving the French cipher machine problem. It was reported at that 

time that the French showed little more than polite interest in the 

British; offer. 

2. On 18 June, however, I l SUKLO, passed to -hhe 

Chairman of the Combined Working Group (CWG) the\in.f'ormation that 

M. Joseph Viala--head ot ·the department ot "Tran.sJnission or Chif'fres 11 in 

the.French Foreign Ministry and a French representative at the tech- ~talks-had. called on .in London on 14 June. 

L______Jhad been one of· the UK representatives at the techlrl.cal talks in. 

Paris. 

3 ~ On 18 June I I al.so r•e l a~le to the CilG 

a report of the. discussion between Vial.a and \ According to that · 

report, Viala indicated his interest in the supp y ···.·. of cipher machines 

for the French Forej.gn Ministry and mentioned that he had been inf'ormed 

recently by US authorities that the prospects for obtaining more 

ASAM 2-1 1s were not very promising. Viala\went on to sq. that on-line 

machines were needed for the principal Frenc.h diplomatic posts, but that 

• off-line machines would be satisfactory for the secmidary posts and 

that rencil and paper methods .would sut"fice for th$ remaining posts. I :t.J:ien, in effect, repeated.his Paris statement\ that the UK has an 

orr-tma.ciliine which is a non-Simpl~ version\of TYFEX (TYPEX Mark 22). I . adciE9d tha'I; this machine was adequately secure arid might be suitable to Frenc)lmeth9ds; end that, al.though he could not at that moment 

commit his governJlllmt"lltl might be able.to arrange the\sale or .fifty 

to one huildred of thea~ macl:lines to the French Gov~t. 

L....--- .....___....,,.....---=- Via.la also discussed tb,e subject o.f molli toring, which 

had been emphasized inthe~partite ~cal talks as a requisi"l;e 

to the enforcement of CO:MSEC discipl:IJle. Vial~ ~pparent:l.y' iildicated ~ 

.. Ji!nolosure with USCIB 29.1/27 dated 6 July 1954. <;;PL 86-36iso USC 3605 

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~ .. PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

that the French were able to do J,i:t:tla. eJ.ongthis l.ine and is said to 

have exhibited great interest in L__J•s sliggestion that the UK might 

be able to undertake the monitoring ¢'/some French transmissions if requested to do so tor this purpos~by the French. 

5. I ltlien requested/that a CWG meeting be celled 

to consider these developments and certain recommendations by the British 

element. He stated that he had been instructed to request USCIB consent 

to the release or TYPEX-22 to the French and he added.that to:rmal LSIB 

approval had not yet been granted but can be assumed. 

6. On 22 June the CWG met and discussed thQroughly the report and its implications. The/group reached agreement on the following 

points: 

a. Thel ~Viala conversations were au unusual but 

natural development f'rom the tripartite technical talks. 

b. The French have given many indications or etf'orts 

to improve their CO)BEC but have not yet achieved a lasting 

or substantial success. 

c. The release of TYPEX-22 to the French is in accord 

with the aims of' the joint program to improve French COM3EO. 

d. The US element of' CWG will present the UK request 

to uscm. 

e. UK monitorllig of' French communications at French 

request tor. OOMSEC purposes also is in accord with the joint 

program; however, no commitments should be made before USCIB 

has considered the matter, although.I lwould be permitted 

to communicate with Viala in order to show continuing inter- . est and in order to obtain further information on what Viala 

bad in mind. 

• 

7. With reference to the f'oregollig, the uscm Ad Hoc Committee 

recommends thats (a) USClB approve the release of' TIPEX-22 to the 

French; and (b) uscm approve in principle the UK monitoring of' French 

CQID11D1njcations at French request f'or COMSEC purposes subject to further 

uscm consideration of such concrete proposals along these lines as are 

made by the British in the CWG. 

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(Signed) 

T. Achilles Polyzo:ldee 

Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee 

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