DRAFT
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Approved For Release^p0/08/07
: CIA-RDP96-00787R000400qj*026-5
MEMORANDUM FOR
(See Distribution)
SUBJECT
Proposed Investigation of Paranormal Phenomena
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You are invited to attend an informal preliminary conference intended to
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establish the proper context for a proposed investigation into various purported
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paranormal phenomena.
You have been chosen because you are known to be aware
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of the recently reported phenomena, because your office has a legitimate interest
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in this field and because we believe that you have a substantive contribution to make.
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F or reasons which we are sure you appreciate and probably share, we wish to
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keep the conference low-key and limit the attendance as well as general awareness
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of the conference and the proposed investigations.
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2.
The conference is being hosted by DDP/TSD and DDS&T/ORD in preparation
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for a possible joint effort in this field.
It is our hope that, by airing the views of
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all legitimately interested parties before we design the specifics of our approach
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to the problem, we can ensure that the outcome- -whatever else
it may prove--will
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be acceptable to all as having validity and meaning for the components and disciplines
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which they represent.
We do not feel that it makes any difference whether,
at this
stage, you are a 'believer' or 'non=believer
' or somewhere in between.
In the spirit
of scientific detachment we merely seek your counsel in an approach to a problem
which has eluded
definitive resolution for eons --and,
of course, may
continue to do so.
3.
There are few groundrules for the conference but,
if we are to accomplish
anything at all, we will have to insist that they be observed
:
there will be no
rehashing of anecdotal accounts
of the recent or other phenomena- -all of which,
in
any case, we have all heard; there will be no idle,
discursive speculations about the
dynamics or meaning of the phenomena- -that is what we hope,
eventually,
.to esthblish.
We ask merely that you come with an open mind and prepared to address yourself
generally to the following questions
:
What kinds
of questions would you like to see
answered by our investigations ?
What kinds of experiments might be crucial from
the point of view of your special interests
(i. e.
,
those of your component)?
What
kinds of laboratory and/or analytical- statistical cohtrols would you like to see
instituted?
What kinds of non-phenomenological testing
(i. e.
, medical, behavior a^^o,
etc) would you like to see performed on the Subjects ?
If the phenomena are verified,
what particular significance would they have for your component?
If the phenomena
are verified and we establish that people with the appropriate attributes can be
trained to reproduce them, what practical (offensive or defensive) applications might
you envisage for your component?
4.
The conference will be held in room
Please notify
on extension
at
hour s on
whether you will
be able to attend or,
alternatively, whether you wish to designate someone else to
represent your office.
In the latter event, please select only on officer already
familiar with the topic and be sure that he /she is informed of the contents of this
memorandum.
Approved For Release 2000/08/07
: CIA-RDP96-00787R000400070026-5
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