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•· - REF ID:A6652~ 

NATIONAL SECURITY. AGENC.,,W 

WASHINGTON 25, D. C. IN REPL.Y R£FM TO 

27 April 1953 

MEMORANDUM TO ALL NSA PERSONNEL 

SUBJECT: Improved Security Practices , I 

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1. The attached letter~ by the Secretary of Defense point 

out the i.mmediate need for improved security practices among all 

personnel in the Department. · 

2. In collaboration with this impelling need, all key personnel in this Agency are directed to express in affirmative and 

unequivocal language to all personnel in their respective offices 

the consequences of unauthorized disclosure of classified security 

information. 

3. In consonance with/this renewed effort for improved 

security practices, exacting application of NSA Security Regulations is enjoined upon all personnel. 

· FOR THE DIRECTOR: 

2 Incls: 

1. SECDEF Memo, 

Security Violations 

2. SECDEF Memo, Improvement of Security 

Procedures 

~pproved for Release by NSA ~n 05-08 2014 

Captain, U.S. Navy 

Acting Chief of Staff 

pursuant to E .o. 1352a 
. .. REF ID: A6652 • 

Tl-IE SECF?ETARY OF DEFENSE 

WA5HINGTON 

26 Jvinrch 195 3 

HEMOE..tUrDUH FCill 'l'llE SECil.f.'i'J\RIE,S OF THE 11ILI'r.1t-i:.Y DEPARTMmrrs 

JOIN'l' CHIEFS OJi' STAFF 

f\.SSIS'l'AN'l' SECRETA...-qIF.s OF DEFENSE 

GlfaHl.HJ.rn OF OOAF'.DS.s COJt,){[TTEES AND COUNCILS, OSD 

ASSISTMITS TO Tf-ff!; SECHETAii.Y OF Dhl''ENSE 

DIHEGTOHS OF O:F'F'ICE:S, OSD 

SU BJEC'l'~ Security Violations in the Department of Defense 

I am doepl;,•r concerned o-ver the number of security vi.olations occurrlng 

recontJy w:l..th:Ln tho Dep:rrtmant of Defense. Responsible military opinion 

has estnb]j.shad that the nature of information so compromisod has seriously 

af:focted t~ho natic.1a.l s::icurity of the· United States. Furthermore, I am 

:l..nfo1'med that intelligence evaluation confirms that such information, both 

in the aggregate and in detail, has provided vital intellieence to cotmtries 

hostile to the United State so 

In vieu of the general international situation and the continuing 

mil.1.tat"J operaU.ons in Korea, I am impressed with the clear necessity of 

affording the utmost protection to our scientific, technical, and military 

advantages. 1'he e:cpenditure of lives and of the wealth of our citize.ns in 

tho pres1mt defense offort mal::es it llk'l.fldatory to insure that our military 

secrets are not dissipated. 

It must be conclude~lJ ·as to ·the reasons for this condition, that iudoctrination in secu1·ity re.g1.ii:at ions generally is being handled in a perfllilctory 

and haphazard manner. Other lndications exist that sensitive staffs and 

.;.gencies lack the dotailed uorkine; J.mowledge of security practices and procedures estabUshed for safeguarding classified infonnation. Also having 

bearing upon the security situation ia inter-service rivalry in the weapons 

dev·elopri;:9nt fleld nnd competition botween defense contractors. · Although 

compet.ition as such is indispensablo to the American system, it has bean 

permitted to unduly infltience decisions on the disclosure of technical developmento of military application. Lastly, I believe that tha debriefing of 

civilians leaving Depart.mEmt of Defense employment, or leaving the employment 

of Departrrant of Defense contractors having classified contracts, must incorporate positive instructions against unlawful disclosures of classified 

information. Similar positive procedures are required in the cases of military personnel retiring and separc..ting from the Serviceo 

As an immediate supplementary measure, I desire that you express in 

afflrmativo and unequivocal language to all personnel under your jurisdiction 

the consequences of unnut.horized disclosure of classified security in.formation and that such instructions specifically include key executives and 

mill tary personnal in headquarters located at the Seat of Government. 
REF ID: ~6652. ..:. . 

Addi tionaJ.ly ;: yo.tfr instructions in1 thi~r matter· shouli& provide for continuity 

of investigati:v·O: jurisdiction and renew to· insure P:,rbmpt o.nd adequate 

disciplinary ·action regardless or· rank. or p0·sition •. , nisciplinary action 

should include·, 'i.n the case· of mirifary personnel, trl~ by court mnrtial 

or in the case ~f civilians, prosa·eution Uili::fer Title• :1::8\ u.s.c., ns amended,. 

or other Feder~· statutes, as appropriate".. Offense·si by civilian omployeas 

of the Departmen:t of De-.~ensa shou1dl also· be· .carefu~· reviewed for tho 

applicability ot: Public Lror 733·, 8·Ist. Congress ( 64 Stat·. 476), pertaining 

to securi t:r ris~.s'. · 1:· ,-

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MEMORANDUM FOR: 

THE SEC.RETARY OF DEFENSE 

WASHINGTON 

March Z6, 1953 

The Secretaries of the Military Departments 

The: Jo.int Chiefs of Staff · 

The As.sistant Secretaries of Defense 

The Chairmen of Boards; Councils and ' . 

:; Committees . 

The Assistants to the Secretary of Defense 

The Directol".S of O.!fices, OSD 

SUBJECT: lmprovenent of Sec.urity Procedures Within the. Depa"l'fment 

of Defense. · 

Rece!lt investigations have indicated that the only method 

whereby the disclosure of cl~ssified info_rmation can be prevented within 

the Department of Defense is the improvement of our security procedures 

and the personal .attention of respo'.9sible officials, There must be fixed 

responsibility in determining to what extent dissemination should be given 

to Government documents, arid the,reafter appropriate records maintained. 

A general tightening up of security regulations within the Department of 

Defense is necessary irt order to insure a higher degree· of security for 

our official documents~ .. 

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In the future, important policy documents within the Department of Defe11se will be made available to personn~l on the strictest "need 

to know" basis, They will. bear a notation on each copy indicating that re -

production is not to he made without permission of the issuing office. Offidals preparing such doc'uments will determine at the time of.signature 

whether this restriction is required and the nu:rnber of copies that are to 

be distributed. 

Where information based on documents, as described in_paragraph two above, is. required by subordinate officials in the execution of 

their duties, it will be the responsibility of the ;recipients of the original 

document to prepare ~rnppleinentary memoranda or directives to furni.sh 

them with the information which they require without reproduction or direct 

quotation from the original document.