'  Th'is  document  downgraded  to  „  rir«m« 
UNCLASSIFIED  by  authority  of       ^SSV  DCID  No.  l/o 
Sec  3(B), EO  11652,  on  12/15/76  (New  Senes) 
s   .  by  246321. 
\     •        • 
DIRECTOR  OF  CENTRAL  INTELLIGENCE  DIRECTIVE  NO.   1/51 
TERMS  OF  REFERENCE,  WATCH  COMMITTEE  OF  THE  USIB 
(Effective  7  March  1961) 
Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  paragraph  4e,  NSCID  No.  1,  and  para- 
graph 61,  a  and  b,  of  NSC  5906/1  (approved  by  the  President  on  3  De- 
cember 1959),  the  following  terms  of  reference  for  the  Watch  Com- 
mittee of  the  USIB  are  hereby  established: 
Preamble 
The  Sino-Soviet  bloc,  as  a  potential  aggressor,  has  the  capa- 
bility to  initiate,  suddenly  at  any  time  and  in  a  place  and 
by  methods  of  its  own  choosing  hostile  action2  in  such 
strength  as  to  threaten  gravely  the  security  of  the  United 
States.  The  mission  of  providing  earliest  possible  warning 
of  hostile  action  or  of  impending  developments  that  could 
eventuate  in  hostile  action  will  be  undertaken  by  the  USIB 
"  agencies,  within  the  scope  of  their  responsibilities,  as  of  the 
highest  priority.  The  proper  discharge  of  this  mission 
depends  upon  the  carrying  out  of  complementary  watch  and 
f  ■    ■  estimating  functions.    It  is  recognized  that,  beginning  with 
evidence  of  an  attack  having  been  launched,  there  are  also 
complementary  responsibilities  for  reporting  and  analysis 
by  the  intelligence  mechanism  and  operational  elements 
which  report  directly.- 
A.  Name 
Watch  Committee  of  the  USIB. 
B.  Mission 
To  provide  the  earliest  possible  warning  to  the  United  States  Govern- 
ment of  hostile  action,  or  of  impending  developments  that  could,  even- 
tuate in  hostile  action,  by  the  Sino-Soviet  bloc,  which  endangers  the 
security  of  the  United  States. 
C.  Functions 
1.  To  develop  and  operate  on  a  current. and  continuing  basis  an 
intelligence  plan  for  obtaining  from  USIB  member  departments  and 
agencies,  and  from  other  U.S.  departments  and  agencies  through  appro- 
priate channels,  the  intelligence  necessary  to  discharge  the  mission  and 
for  recommending  collection  priorities  therefor. 
lThis  Directive  supersedes  DCID  No.  1/5,  effective  14  November  1958,  which  In 
turn  had  superseded  DCID  No.  1/2  of  11  May  1954. 
•Aggressive  action  by  regular  or  irregular  armed  forces. 
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2.  To  analyze  and  evaluate  information  and  intelligence,  both  cur-  (     ) 
rent  and  cumulative,  on  an  all-source  basis,  received  or  produced  by  all 
agencies  to  determine  whether  it  may  relate  to  the  imminence  of  hostile 
action,  and  to  develop  therefrom  the  conclusions  as  to  indications  of 
Sino-Soviet  bloc  intentions: 
'a.  to  initiate  hostile  action  against  —  • 
(1)  the  United  States,  U.S.  possessions,  or  U.S.  forces  abroad, 
(2)  U.S.  allies  or  their  forces, 
(3)  other  areas  and  forces  outside  the  Sino-Soviet  bloc. 
  
b.  to  initiate  hostile  action  in  reaction  to  or  in  exploitation  of  any 
other  development,  actual  or  potential. 
3.  To  draw  conclusions  regarding  or  to  draw  attention  to,  as  appro- 
priate,' current  and  prospective  developments  involving  the  Sino-Soviet 
bloc  which  could  eventuate  in  hostile  action. 
4.  .When  necessary  in  developing  its  conclusions,  to  make  provisional 
estimative  judgments  but  to  avoid  duplicating  USIB  estimating  func- 
tions. 
5.  To  report  promptly  its  conclusions,  together  with  significant 
indications,  to  the  principals  of  the  USIB  and,  following  their  action,  to 
make  dissemination  to  other  recipients  as  appropriate. 
6.  To  make  recommendations  to  the  USIB,  or  member  agencies 
thereof,  on  any  matters  appropriate  to  its  mission,  including  such  diver- 
gent views  as  may  be  recorded. 
D.  Composition  and  Organization 
The  Watch  Committee  will' be  composed  of  a  Senior  Officer  repre- 
senting each  USIB  member  and  a  Chairman  who  will  be  designated  by 
the  Director  of  Central  Intelligence  after  consultation  with  the  USIB. 
The  Committee  will  be  assisted  in  its  duties  and  responsibilities  by  the 
National  Indications  Center  (NIC),  headed  by  a  Director  to  be  provided 
by  CIA  and  staffed  with  professional  intelligence  and  administrative 
personnel  to  be  furnished  by  the  USIB  members. 
E:  Duties  and  Responsibilities 
■  The  Watch  Committee  shall  discharge,  or  direct  the  National  Indi- 
cations Center  in  the  discharge  of,  the  below-listed  duties  and  respon- 
sibilities: 
1.  Meet  on  a  regular  schedule  as  determined  by  the  Committee  and 
on  special  occasions  when  requested  by  one  or  more  of  its  members  or 
their  principals. 
2.  Arrange  through  the  USIB  or  appropriate  members  thereof  for 
the  exploitation  of  every  domestic  and  foreign  source  of  information  and 
intelligence  pertinent  to  the  Watch  Committee  mission  and  for  the 
prompt  reporting  of  such  information.  7    ..  " 
3.  Arrange  with  USIB  agencies  for  the  systematic  screening  and 
forwarding  to  the  National  Indications  Center  of  all  pertinent  informa- 
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(  tion  and  intelligence,  especially  that  required  by  NSC  5433.    An  agency 
evaluation,  where  appropriate, -will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  possible. 
4.  Maintain  liaison  with  USIB  agencies  to  ensure  that  all  pertinent 
information  and  intelligence  is  made  available  to  the  National  Indica- 
tions Center. 
5.  Screen  all  pertinent  information  received  from  USIB  agencies  for 
indications  relating  to  the  Watch  Committee  mission  and  develop  evalu- 
ations thereof  in  coordination  with  concerned  USIB  agencies. 
6.  Maintain  a  24-hour  watch  function  in  order  to  carry  out  a  con- 
tinuous study  of  incoming  information,  alert  members  of  the  Watch 
Committee  and  NIC  as  required  and  obtain  from  USIB  agencies  evalu- 
ations of  significant  indications. 
7.  Review  periodically  any  USIB-approved.  General  Indicator  List 
and  recommend  changes  to  it  as  appropriate. 
8.  Maintain  files,  graphic  displays,  charts  and  other  devices  to  sup- 
port and  develop  the  interpretation  of  indications  information.  Study 
on  a  continuing  basis  the  application  of  electronic  data  processing  sys- 
tems to  the  work  of  the  NIC  with  a  view  to  making  appropriate  recom- 
mendations to  the  USIB. 
9.  Study  improvements  in  substantive  analysis  and  analytical  tech- 
niques in  the  field  of  responsibility  of  the  Watch  Committee,  calling  on 
USIB  agencies  for  assistance  when  appropriate. 
10.  Perform  such  additional  tasks  as  shall  be  required  by  the  USIB 
in  the  discharge  of  the  Watch  Committee  mission. 
ALLEN  W.  DULLES 
Director  of  Central  Intelligence 
■;*#*** 
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