REF ID:A59099 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

KSA TE.li11f111 1JnL LU~HAHY WASHINGTON I~ EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

August 6, 19'1 

IESTRIGl ,__, <;& 

MEMORANDUM FOR THE NATI01'TAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

SUBJECT: 

REFERENCES: 

Minimum Standards fo~ the Handling and Transmission 

of Classified Information 

A. 

B. 

c. 

Memos for NSC from Executive Secretary, same 

subject, dated July 11, 19'1 . NSC Act1on No. 707 

Memo for NSC from Executive Secretary, same 

subject, dated January 2, 1951 

The President has this date approved the draft 

Executive Order on the subject, as recommended by the National 

Security Council, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, the Director of Defense Mobilization, the Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and the Director, 

Bureau of the Budget, in lieu of the draft Executive Order transmitted by the reference memorandum of January 2, 19'1 {Reference C) 

The approved Executive Order is accordingly transmitted herewith for Council information and, at the direction or tl. 

President, is being transmitted to the Director, Bureau of the 

Budget, tor issuance. 

JAMES s. LAY, JR. 

Executive Secretary 

cc: The Secretary of the Treasury The Attorney General 

The Secretary of Commerce 

The Director of Defense Mobilization 

The Director, Bureau of the Budget The Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission 

RESTRICTED 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 12-20-2013 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
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:RBB':PRI O':PEJB 

August 3, 1951 

EXECUTIVE ORDER 

PRESCRIBING REGULATIONS ESTABLISHING 

MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE CLASSIFICATION, 

TRANSMISSION AND HANDLING OF OFFICIAL 

INFORMATION RELATI.NG TO THE SECURITY OF 

THE NATION. 

WHEREAS it is necessary, in order to protect the 

national security of the United States, to establish a system for 

the safeguarding of official information, the unauthorized disclosure or which would or could harm, tend to impair or otherwise threaten the security of the nation; and 

WHEREAS it is desirable and proper that the minimum 

standards for procedures, designed to protect the national security against such unauthorized disclosure, should be uniformly applicable to all departments and agencies of the Executive 

Branch of the Government and should be known to and understood 

by those who deal with the Federal Government; and 

WHEREAS the furnishing of full information to the public about government activities will be enhanced by the clear 

identification of those matters whose safeguarding is required 

by national security; 

NOW,THEREFORE, I, by virtue of the authority vested in 

me by the Constitution and statutes, as President of the United 

States, hereby prescribe the following regulations establishing minimum standards for the classification, transmission and 

handling of classified security information within the Executive 

Branch of the Federal Government for the purpose of safeguarding against unauthorized disclosure of official information upon which the security of the nation rests or depends. 

These regulations shall be applicable throughout the 

Executive Branch of the Government to the extent not inconsistent 

with law. Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to 

replace, change, or otherwise be applicable with respect to any material or information protected against disclosure by any 

statute. Nothing 1n these regulations shall be construed to 

authorize the dissemination, release, handling or transmission 

or classified information contrary to the provisions of any law, 

Executive Order, or Presidential directive which restricts the 

dissemination, release, handling, or transmission of such information. 

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These regulations shall take effect thirty days afte~ 

publication in the Federal Register and I call upon all citizens 

of the United States who may have cause to know about or have 

access to classified information, to observe the same standards 

and to join with the Federal Government in a concerted and continuing effort to prevent disclosure, to those who are inimical 

to the interests of the United States, of information the dissemination of which to such persons would be detrimental to the 

security of 6ur nation. 

PART I - - GENERAL 

1. PURPOSE - The sole purpose of these regulations is 

to provide minimum standards for identifying and protecting information the safeguarding of which is necessary in order to protect the national security. 

2. SCOPE - These regulations shall apply only to 

classified security information as defined in paragraph 5 of 

Part II bereof, and the terms "classified security information," 

''security classification, 11 "classify," 1'declassify,, 11 11 downgrade, 11 

"upgrade," "appropriate classifying authority" and "marking" apply or relate only to official information of the United States 

Government which requires safeguarding in order to protect the 

national security. 

3. CATEGORIES OF CLASSIFIED SECURITY INFORMATION - There shall be four categories of classified security information 

which, in descending order or importance to national security, shall carry the following designations: "Top Secret"; "Secret 11 ; 

"Confidential 11 ; and ''Restricted'; in adcli tion to being specifically identified as "Security Information.'~ No other classification 

or classifications shall be used to designate classified security information. 

4. NON-SECURITY INFORMATION ~ Nothing in these regula- tions shall apply to information, official or otherwise, not 

requiring the special procedural safeguards provided by these 

regulations in the interest of the security of our nation. The 

use of any one of the four security classifications herein 

prescribed, combined with the identification "Security Information," 

shall be strictly limited to classified security information. Nonsecurity information distributed in advance of a release date 

for official use or for analysis by any individual or group of 

individuals shall not, after the effective date of this order, 

be given a security classification but may be so marked as to 

indicate that general release is not authorized prior to a 

specified date or occasion. 

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PART II -- DEFINITIONS 

5. CLASSIFIED SECURITY INFORMATION - The term "classified security information" as used herein means only official 

information the safeguarding of which is necessary in the interest 

of national security. 

6. INFORMATION - The term "information" as used herein 

means knowledge-which can be communicated, either orally or by 

means of material. 

7. MATERIAL - The term "material" as used herein means 

any docurnent, product or substance on or in which information may be recorded or embodied. 

8. DOCUMENT - The term ''document" as used herein means 

any recorded informatfon regardless of its physical form or 

characteristics, and includes but is not limited to the following: (1) written material whether handwritten, printed, or 

typed; (2) all painted, drawn or engraved material; (3) all 

sound or voice recordings; (4) all printed photographs and exposed 

or printed film, still or moving; and (5) all reproductions of 

the foregoing by whatever process. 

9. PRODUCT AND SUBSTANCE - The terms "product" and 

''subs ta nee" as used herein mean any item or material (other than 

documents) from which information may be obtained; apply to 

items in all stages of development, processing or construction 

and include elements, ingredients, components, accessories, 

fixtures, dies, models and mock-ups associated with such items. 

10. AGENCY - The term "agency" as used herein means 

any department or-establishment within the Executive Branch, 

including any government corporation that is operated as an 

instrumentality of the Federal Government. 

11. UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION - 'rhe term "unclassified 

information" as used herein means :tnformation not requiring the 

procedural safeguards provided by these regulations and therefore 

not included in one of the aforementioned security classifications. 

12. CRYPTOGRAPHIC SYSTEM - The term "cryptographic system'' as used· herein means any aocument, product or method 

employed to change information from plain language form to 

unintelligible form or to change the resulting cryptographed information into plain language form. 

13. SERIAL MATTER - The term "serial matter" as used 

herein means that townich a serial number is assigned and which 

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is accounted for at prescribed intervals and upon specified occasions. 

14. TELEGRAM - The term "telegram" as used herein 

means any document recording information for transmission by telegraph, telephone, cable, radio or other electrical means of 

transmission. 

15. CLASSIFY - The term "classify" as used herein means 

to assigr1 information to one of the four security classification 

categories after determination has been made that the information 

requires the security protection provided by these regulations. 

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION - The term 11 security classification" as used herein means the category into which information falls after being classified as specified in paragraph 3 

of Part I hereof. Extreme care shall be exercised to insure that 

a particular security classification is assigned only to such 

informat:ton as requires the degree of protection made applicable by these regulations to that classification. 

17. DECLASSIFY - The term "declassify" as used herein 

means to remove the security classification. 

18. DO\.\TNGRADE - The term "downgrade" as used herein 

means to assign-S.-lower security classification than that 

previously assigned. 

19. UPGRADE - The term 11 upgrade '

1 as used herein means 

to assign a higher security classification than that previously assigned. 

20. APPROPRIATE CLASSIFYING AUTHORITY 

a. 'In General. The term "appropriate classifying authority" as used herein means the head of the originating 

agency and those whom he has authorized to classify,, declassify, upgrade or downgrade information pursuant to these regulations. 

b. Material Officially Transferred from Originating Agency to Another Agenct. In the case of ini'ormation transferred,, by operation of law or y Executive Order,, from one agency to 

another for the latter's use and as part of its official files 

as distinguished from transfers merely for purposes of storage, the receiving agency shall be deemed to be the "appropriate classifying authority" for all purposes under these regulations. 

c. Material of Defunct Agency Not Officially Transferred to Another Agency. When any agency has in its possession, 

on the effective date of these regulations, any classified 

security information which is then, or thereafter becomes,, five 

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:RHS'±'RIG':PElD 

years old and it appears (1) that such information originated in an agency which has since become defunct and whose records, 

files and other material have not been officially transferred to 

another agency within the meaning of subsection 11 b 11 above, or 

(2) that it is impossible for the possessing agency to identify the originating agency, and (3) a review of the information 

indicates that it should be downgraded or declassified, the said 

possessing agency shall have power under these regulations to 

declass:l.fy or downgrade such information. If it appears probable that another agency may have a substantial interest in the 

question whether the security classification of' any particular information should be maintained, the possessing agency shall 

not exercise the power conferred upon it by this subsection until 

thirty days after the possessing agency has notified such other 

agency of the nature of the information and of its intention to 

declassify or downgrade the same. During the thirty-day period 

tne othe!r agency may, if it;so desires, express its objections 

to declassifying or downgrading the particular information, but 

the power to make the ultimate decision shall reside in the 

possessing agency. 

21. MARKING - The term "marking" as used herein means 

the physical ac€ of indicating on classified security information 

the assj.gned classification or change therein. 

22. RECORD MATERIAL - The term ,•Jrecord material" as 

used herein means all books, papers, maps, photographs, or other 

documentary materials, regardless of physical form or characteristics,, made or received by an agency of the United States Govern- ~ent in pursuance of Federal law or in connection with the transaction of public business and preserved or appropriated for 

preservation by that agency or its legitimate successor as 

evidence of the organization, functions, policies, operations, decisions,, procedures,, or other activities of any agency of the 

Government, or because of the informational value of the data 

contained therein. 

23. NON-RECORD MATERIAL - The term ·•non-record material" 

as used herein means extra copies and duplicates the use for 

which is essentially temporary; shorthand notes,, used carbon 

paper; preliminary drafts; and other material of similar nature. 

PART III -- RESPONSIBILITIES 

24. ALL PERSONNEL IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH 

a. The responsibility for the protection, pursuant to 

these regulations, of classified security information shall rest 

upon each individual in the Executive Branch having knowledge thereof, no matter how that information was obtained. 

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b. Each individual in the Executive Branch shall be 

directly responsible for familiarizing himself with and adhering 

to all regulations applicable to him which are issued for the 

protection of classified security information. 

25. AUTHORITY FOR HEADS OF AGENCIES TO DELEGATE - The 

head of an.agency may delegate the performance or any or all of the 

functions charged to him herein, but the ultimate responsibility for the safeguarding of classified security information within 

the agency shall remain with and rest upon the head of the agency, including: 

a. Such additional instructions on the safeguarding of 

classified security information as requirements of his agency 

may dictate; 

b. Security of his agency's messenger-courier systems for transmission of classified security information; 

c. Authorization of appropriate officials within his 

agency to assign information to the proper security classification 

under these regulations. Authorizations to classify security information as 11Top Secret" or "Secret" shall be held to the 

minimum necessary for the performance or required activities, and 

shall be maintained at a high level within the agency. The 

authorizationsto classify security information aa "Top Secret" 

shall be substantially more limited in number than those for 

"Secret" and shall be restricted to those officials whose 

functional requirements are such that they must have that 

authority; 

d. Designation of those authorized to receive "Top Secret" security information; 

e. Designation of officials responsible for "Top Secret" security information control.; 

f. Designation of individuals to be responsible for 

the security programs in the various organizational units of the 

agency; 

g. Appropriate investigation and clearance of 

personnel who are to have access to classified security information; 

h. Maintenance within his agency of a continuing review 

of the uso of security classifications to insure uniform and 

proper application; 

1. Procedures governing dissemination of classified 

security information outside his agency; 

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j. Procedures governing changes 1n security classification and the destruction of classified security information; 

k. Thorough indoctrination of all individuals of his 

agency in security regulations and procedures; 

1. Issuance of additional instructions pertaining to 

communications security, serial matter, Restricted Data (as hereinafter used) and other subjects requir~ng additional regula- tions. -

PART IV 

RULES GOVERNING SECURITY CLASSIFICATION, 

UPGRADING, DOWNGRADING, AND DECLASSIFICATION 

26. GENERAL CLASSIFICATION PRINCIPLES 

a. Uniformity of application of classification. 

Uniformity of application of classification shall be a requirement for the proper safeguarding of classified security information. In accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part I hereof, 

in order to preserve the integrity of the security classifications 

"Top Secret," "Secret," "Confidential," and "Restricted," when 

combined with the identification" Security Information," these 

classifications shall be used only for the purpose or identifying information which must be safeguarded to protect the national 

security. 

b. Use of Lowest Consistent Classification. To avoid 

over-classification and depreciation of the importance of 

properly classified security information and to avoid unnecessary delay in the handling and transmission of documents and other 

material, information shall be assigned the lowest security classification consistent with its proper protection. Use of the 

classification "Top Secret" combined with the identification 

"Security Information," shall be held at an absolute minimum. 

Such classification shall be given only to information which plain- ly requires the highest degree of protection in the interest of 

national security. The major criterion for the assignment of 

this classification shall be recognition of the fact that unauthorized disclosure of information so classified would or could 

cause exceptionally grave danger to the national security. The 

classification "Secret" combined with the identification "Security Information" shall be given only to information which requires extraordinary protection in the interest of national security. The classification ."Confidential" combined with the identification 

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"Security Information" shall be given to such information as 

requires careful protection in order to prevent disclosures which 

might harm national security. The classification'': "Restricted" 

combined with the identification "Security Information" shall be 

applied to information having such bearing upon national security 

as to require protection against unauthorized use or disclosure, 

particularly information which should be limited to official use. 

c. Special Statutory use of term "Restricted Data." 

The term "Restricted" as used herein shall not be confused with 

the term "Restricted Data,," defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 

August 1, 1946 (60 Stat. 766, c. 724, Sec. lO{b) (l); 42 USC 

Sec. 18lO{b) (1)) as follows: 

"The term 'Restricted Data' as used in this section 

means all data concerning the manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, the production of fissionable 

material, or the use of fissionable material in the 

production of power, but shall not include any data 

which the Commission from time to time determines may 

be published without adversely affecting the common 

defense and security." 

Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to authorize the 

classification, downgrading or declassification of "Restricted 

Data,," except by the Atomic Energy Commission in conformity with 

the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act. 

27. SPECIAL CLASSIFICATION RULES 

a. Change in Classification of Information. No change shall be made in the assigned classification of security information without the consent of the appropriate classifying authority; 

extracts from or paraphrases of classified documents shall likewise be maintained in the assigned security classification unless 

the consent of the appropriate classifying authority to downgrade 

or declassify such extract or paraphrase is secured or unless 

the agency making such extracts knows positively that they bear 

a security classification lower than that of the document from 

which extracted or that they are not classified. 

b. Classified Telegrams shall not be referred to, 

extracted from, paraphrased, downgraded, declassified and disseminated except in accordance with special regulations issued 

by the head or the originating agency. 

Classified telegrams transmitted over cryptographic 

systems shall be handled in accordance with the regulations or the 

transmitting ageRey. 

a. Information Ori~inated by a Foreign Government. 

Information of a c~ass1r1ed na ure within the meaning of these 

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regulations, originated by a foreign government and furnished to 

the United States by that government, shall be assigned a security classification which will assure a degree of protection equiva- lent to or greater than that required by the originating government. 

d. Documents in General. Documents shall be classified 

acco1"ding to their own content and not necessarily according to 

their relationship to other documents. References to classified 

material which do not reveal classified security information 

shall not be classified. 

e. Physically Connected Documents. The classification 

of a f:J.le or group of physically connected documents shall be at 

least as high as that of the most highly classified document 

therein. Documents separated from the file or group shall be 

handled in accordance with their individual security classification. 

f. Multiple Classification. A document, product, or 

substance shall bear a classification at least as high as that of 

its highest classified components. The document, product or 

substance shall bear only one over-all security classification, 

notwithstanding that pages, paragraphs, sections, or components 

may bear different classifications. 

g. A Letter Transmitting Security Information shall be 

classified at least as high as i ts-·highest classified enclosure. 

28. UPGRADING 

a. When information is upgraded, the appropriate classifying authority shall, so far as possible, notify all 

addressees to whom the information was originally transmitted. 

b. If the recipient or information believes that its 

assigned classification is not sufficiently protective, he shall 

safeguard it in accordance with the classification he deems ap- propriate and shall bring his reasons for such belief to the 

attention of the appropriate classifying authority with a 

request for upgrading. 

29. DOWNGRADI~G AND DECIJASSIFICATIO~. 

a. Automatic. Wherever practicable, the classifying official shall place a notation on classified material, except telee;rams, that after a specified event or date, or upon removal 

of class:lfied enclosures the material will be downgraded or declassified. 

b. Non-automatic. The appropriate classifying authority may downgrade or declassify security information when circumR:S8'i1RIO'i1ED 

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l!•tances no longer warrant its retention in its original classification. When such information is downgraded or declassified the 

custodian of the record material, in the case of a document, or 

the custodian of the products or substances shall be so informed; and, when practicable, the other recipients or the material shall 

be similarly advised. 

c. Review of Assigned Classifications. It shall be 

the responsibility and obligation of every government official to 

keep classified security information in his custody constantly under review, and to initiate action toward downgrading or declassification as soon as qonditions warrant. 

PART V 

DISSEMINATION OF CLASSIFIED SECURITY INFORMATION 

30. GENERAL - The safeguarding of classified security information pursuant to these regulations shall be the responsi- bility of every individual having custody thereof, but no person shall be entitled to knowledge or possession of, or access to, 

classified security information solely by virtue of his office 

or position. 

Classified security information shall not be discussed 

with or in the presence of unauthorized persons, and the latter 

shall not be permitted to inspect or have access to such information. 

The head of each agency shall establish a system for 

controlling the dissemination of classified security information, 

adequate to the needs of his agency. 

31. LIMITATIONS ON DISSEMINATION. 

a. Within the Executive Branch. The dissemination of 

classified security information shall be limited to persons whose official duties require knowledge of such information. 

Special measures shall be employed to limit the dissemination 

of "Top Secret" security information to the absolute minimum. 

Only that portion of "Top Secret" security information necessary 

to the proper planning and appropriate action of any organiza- tional unit or individual shall be released to such unit or 

individual. 

b. Outside the Executive Branch. Classified security information shall not be disseminated outside the Executive 

Branch by any person or agency having access thereto or knowledge thereof except under conditions and through channels authorized 

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by the head of the disseminating agency, even though such person 

or agency may have been solely or partly responsible for its 

production. 

c. Inform,ation Originating in Another Agency. Except 

as otherwise provided by Section l02 oi me National Security Act 

of July 26, 1947, c. 343, 61 Stat. 498, as amended, 50 USC 

Sec. 403, classified security information originating in 

another agency shall not be disseminated outside the receiving 

agency w:I. thout the consent of the originating agency. 

Documents and material, containing security information, 

which are classified 11 '11op Secret" and "Secret" shall not be 

reproduced without the consent of the originating agency. 

d. Telephone Conversations. Classified security information shall nolri:>e revealed over the telephone, except that the 

head of an agency may permit the practice of so discussing security information classified as "Restricted" which originated within h:l.s own agency. 

32. LOSS OR SUBJECTION TO COMPROMISE. Any person in the 

Executive Branen who has knowledge of the loss or possible subjection to compromise of class1fied security information shall 

promptly report the circumstances to a designated official of 

his agency, and the latter shall, take appropriate action forthwith, including advice to the originating office or agency. 

PART VI 

RULES GOVERNING HANDLING OF CLASSIFIED 

SECURITY INFORMATION 

(Including Marking, Transmission, Storage, and Destr'UCtion) 

33. MARKING - After determination of the classification 

to be assigned, classified security information shall be marked 

in accordance with the procedures herein set forth. In order to 

identify classified security information and to distinguish it 

from non-security information, classified security material must 

always be clearly marked with the words "Security Information" 

in addit:i.on to its assigned security classification. 

a. Documents 

(1) Bound Documents. The assigned security classification on bound documents, such as books or pamphlets, the pages of which are permanently and securely fastened together, shall 

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be conspicuously marked or stamped on the outside of the front 

cover, 011 the title page, on the first page, on the back page and on the outside of the back cover. In each case the markings shall be applied to the top and bottom of the page or cover. 

(2) Unbound Documents. The assigned security classification on unbound documents, such as letters, memoranda, 

reports, telegrams, and other similar documents, the pages of 

which are not permanently and securely fastened together, shall 

be conspicuously marked or stamped at the top and bottom of each 

page, in such manner that the marking will be clearly visible when 

the pages are clipped or stapled together. 

(3) Charts, Maps, and Drawings. Classified charts, 

maps, and drawings shall carry the security classification marking undeJ~ the legend, title block, or scale in such manner that 

it will be reproduced on all copies made therefrom. Such classification shall also be marked at the top and bottom in each 

instance .. 

(4) Photographs, Films and Recordings. Classified 

photographs, films, and recordings, and their containers, shall 

be conspi.cuously and appropriately marked with the assigned security classification. 

b. Products or Substances. The assigned security classification shall be conspicuously marked on classified 

products or substances, if possible; on their containers,, if 

possible; or, if the article or container cannot be marked, 

written notification of such classification shall be furnished 

to recipients thereof, 

c. Additional Markings. 

(1) Material Furnished Persons not in the 

Executive Branch or the Government. When classified security informafion affecting the national defense is furnished ~uthorized 

persons, in or out of Federal service, other than those in the 

Executive Branch, the following notation, in addition to the 

assjgned classification mark:J.ng,, shall whenever practicable be 

placed on the material, on its container or on the written 

notification of its assigned classification: 

"This material contains information affecting the national defense of the United States within 

the meaning of the espionage laws, Title 18, u.s.c., 

Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation 

of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law." 

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Use of alternative marking concerning "Restricted Data" as 

defined by the Atomic Energy Act is authorized when appropriate. 

34. TRANSMISSION 

a. ~reparation of Classifidd Security Information for 

Transmission. 

(1) Outside an Agency. 

(a) "Top Secret" Security Information and "Secret" 

Security Information-.-

1. ''Top Secret" security information and 

"Secret 11 security information shall be enclosed in opaque inner 

and outer covers. 

2. The inner cover shall be a sealed 

wrapper or envelope plainly marked with the assigned security classification and address. 

3. The outer cover shall be sealed and 

addressed with no indication of the security classification. 

4. There shall be attached to or enclosed in 

the inneJ~ cover a receipt form containing no classified security information but identifying the addresser, addressee and the 

document; such receipt will be slgned by the proper recipient and returned to the sender. 

5. Written material shall be protected from 

direct contact with the inner cover by a cover sheet or by folding inward. 

(b) "Confident1al"Security Information. 

l. "Confidential" security information shall 

be prepared for transmission in the same manner as that indicated 

ror "Top Secret" security information and "Secret" security information, except that it shall be covered by a receipt only when 

the sender deems it necessary. 

(c) "Restricted" Security Information. 

1. "Restricted"security information shall 

be transmitted in a sealed wrapper or envelope without any indication of the security classification of the contents shown 

thereon. 

2. No receipt shall be required for 

"Restricted" security information. 

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(2) Within an Afency. Preparation of classified 

security inforrnation-ror transm ssion within an agency shall be 

governed by regulations, issued by the head of the agency, insuring a degree of security equivalent to that outlined above 

for transmission outside an agency. 

b. Transmission of Classified Security Information.. 

(1) "Top Secret" Security Information. 

(a) ~he head of each agency shall designate Top Secret Control Officers to receive, ma~ntain registers of, and dispatch all "Top Secret" security inf'ormation. 

(b) The transmission of "Top Secret" security information shall be effected (1) preferably by direct contact of 

officials concerned or alternatively by specifically designated personnel, by State Department diplomatic pouch, by a messenger- courier system especially created for that purpose, or by electric 

means in encrypted form; or (2) in the case of information transmitted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, such means of 

transmission may be used as are currently approved by the Director, 

Federal Bureau of Investigation, unless express reservation to the 

contrary :ts made in exceptional cases by the originating agency. 

(2) "Secret" Security Information shall be transmitted wi·thin the continental United States by one of the means 

established for "Top Secret" security information,, by an 

authorized courier, by United States registered mail, or by protected commercial express, air or surface. "Secret" security information may be transmitted outside the continental limits of 

the United States by one of the means established for 11Top Secret" 

security information, by commanders or masters of vessels of 

United States registry, or by United States Post Office registered mail through Army, Navy or Air Force postal facilities, provided that the material does not at any time pass out of United States 

Government control and does not pass through a foreign postal 

system. "Secret" security information may, however, be transmitted between United States Government and/or Canadian Government 

installat:'i.ons in continental United States, Canada and Alaska by United States and Canadian registered mail with registered mail 

receipt. 

(3) "Confidential" Security Information shall be 

transmitted within the United States by one of the means established 

for higher classifications, by ordinary mail, or by express or 

freight under such specific conditions as may be prescribed by the head of the department or agency concerned. Outside the 

continental United States, "Confidential" security information 

shall be transmitted in the same manner as authorized for higher security classifications. 

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(4) "'Restricted" security information shall be 

transmitted within the-continental United States by any means 

authorized for higher security classifications, or by express or 

freight. "Restricted" security information shall be transmitted 

outside the continental United States by one of the means 

established for higher security class1~1cations, but registration of "Restricted" security information shall not be required when 

it is transmitted by Army, Navy or Air Force postal channels. 

35. PHYSICAL sr.cURITY 

a. Stora&e Facilities. Classified security information 

not in actual use by, or u~der'a!rect observation of, an authorized 

person located in the same i•oom shall be stored as set forth 

below: 

(1) "Top Secret" Security Information shall be 

stored in the most secure facilities available. Normally it will 

be stored in a safe, a steel file cabinet, or other steel container having a three position dial-type combination lock and 

being of such weight, size, construction, or installation as to 

minimize possibility of physical theft or damage by fire or 

tampering. In lieu of such a container, the material may be 

stored in a secure room or vault approved ror such use by the head 

of the agency and kept securely locked when not in use. Such 

approval shall not be construed to relieve the custodian of any responsibility for the safety of the classified security information. If the foregoing safeguards are not available, material 

so classified shall be kept under surveillance of an armed 

guard when not in use. 

(2) "Secret" and "Confidential" Security Information shall be stored in a manner autfiorized for "Top Secret 11 

security information, or in metal file cabinets equipped with a 

steel lockbar and an approved three combination dial-type padlock from which the manufacturer's identification numbers have been 

obliterated, or in comparably secure fac:tlities approved by the 

head or the agency. 

(3) "Restricted" Security Information may be 

stored in a manner authorized for h!gher categories of classified 

security information, but ordinarily shall be stored in a container equipped with a reasonably secure locking device or other 

storage facility of comparable security approved by the head of 

the agency. 

b. Inspections 

(1) It shall be the responsibility of the 

individual charged with the custody of classified security information to accomplish the necessary inspections within his 

Fl:B89?RIO'i'FID 

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REF ID:A59099 

area 1 to insure that all procedural safeguards prescribed by these 

regulations are taken to protect such information at all times. 

(2) 

to make inspections classifi.ed security stored. 

In each aeency, individuals shall be designated 

on a room or area basis to insure that all 

information has bewn properly and safely 

c. Safe Combinations 

(1) Safe combinations shall be changed at least 

once a year; whenever a person knowing the combination is transferred from the office to which the safe is assigned; when a safe 

is first brought into an of~ice; when the combination has been 

subjected to compromise; and at such other times as is deemed 

necessary. 

(2) Knowledge of combinations shall be limited to 

the minimum necessary for operating purposes. 

(3) Safe combinations shall be given a security classification equivalent to that of the most highly classified 

security information authorized by these regulations to be contained in the safe. 

36. DESTRUCTION OF CLASSIFIED SECURITY INFORMATION 

a. Types of Material Which May Be Destroied I 

(1) Record Material may be destroyed only in 

accordance with the Act 01' July 7,··1943, c. 192$ 57 Stat. 380, 

as amended, 44 USC Secs. 366-380. 

(2) Non-Record Material may be destroyed as soon 

as it has served its purpose. 

b. Methods of Destruction. Classified record material, 

the destruction of' which has been autnorized 1 and classified nonrecord material shall be destroyed by the following methods under 

procedures established by the head of the agency: 

(1) "Top Secret," "Secret" and "Confidential" 

Security Documents shall be destroyed oy burning; products and 

substances by an equally complete method of destruction; in each 

case in the presence of an appropriate official. The head of an 

agency may authorize destruction of documents other than by burning, provided the resulting destruction is equallJ complete. • 

(2) "Restricted" Security Information shall be 

destroyed by burning, shreading or reduc£lon to pulp, or an 

equally complete method of destruction. 

RES':PRIG~ElD 

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REF ID:A59099 

RES'PRIO'i'EE> 

c. Records of Destruction. Appropriate records of 

destruction of material classified 11Top Secret" and "Secret" 

combined with the identification "Security Information," shall 

be maintained 1n accordance with procedures established by the 

head of the agency, 

PART VII 

INTERPRETAT.vN OF REGULATIONS BY 

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL 

37. The Attorney General, upon request of the head of 

a department or agency or his duly designated representative,, shall 

personally or through authorized representatives of the Department of Justice render an interpretation of these regulations in connection with any problems arising out of their administration. 

THE WHITE HOUSE 

" 1951 

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REO'PRIO'i'ED