7 RESTRICTED (4-35 cree | CONFIDENTIAL | ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET INSTRUCTIONS.—Ofiicer designations should be used in the "TO" column, Under each comment a line should be drawn across sheet and ench comment numbered to correapond with the number ia the "TO" column. Each! officer shoutd initial (check mark insufficient) before further routing. This Record and Routing Sheet should be returned to Registry. OFEICER'S INEUIALS: 29 March 52. phoned me about this case a day or 46 ago ami it seems that there ts considerable pressure abuilding on the part of Mr. Scripps to be al- lowed to use the large balloons overtly. He 1a hoping to be able to vet an anewer to these people prior to the April 2nd meeting. Whether this is possible or net, I do not know. It may be that this question must be raised ayain with the POCC since they were in on it at the beginning. Ac tually thic may be an opportunity to have gome overt agency do a job for us and the request should be evaluated on that basis. . VK Grey acres Iker . wat ot PSR Lunt ean fe  Pewel 17 - (resin e Dull. Wrsune - Felbe + Seegtauk Peer — Barwa qg Allen jose 51-9 PRES RESTRICTED \ COMFIDENTIAL 3@ Gast? & ee
14-00000 27 March 1992 “ el f MEMORANDUM FORs SPC SUBJECT: Leaflet Balloons for use in Psychological Warfare 1. On at ledot four occasions Mr. William Scripps, Detroit News, directly or imiirectly has approached the Government with proposals for utilization of balloons for psychological warfare. Following is a liet of the dates and method of these approachess fic 12 October 1950 - Letter from General W. J. Donovan to DCI enclosing "Operation Ballast.” ‘On 1 November 1950 Killiam H,. Jackeon responded to this meziorandum to the effect that this suggested opera- tion was being referred to’ the appropriate parsons and suggesting a subsequent meeting with Donovan to discuss this and other matters, be In November 1950 as we were undertaking planuing for develop~ ment of balloons with General Mills, we were informed that Mr, Scrippe planned a general meeting to be held in Washington to discuss balloona. Through the Genoral Mills Washington Representative Nr. soripps was persuaded to keep his meating general and was informed that the various agencies of the Government had the matter under consideration and considered that it would not be in the public interest at this time to disclose the nature of thelr findings, Consequently, Mr. Scripps forwarded us on 1 December 1950 a proposal "The Use af Free Balloons for Load Carrying Purposes" which we acknowledged on 11 December 1950, @. On December 26, 1950 General Snith received a letter from Blair Moody summarising a suggestion from Mr. William scrippa for encouraging defection of Chinese Communist troops, A routine response te his letter waa sent 6 Jamuary 1951 frem Mr. Jackson. J believe also Mr, Moody called upon the Director in early February of 1951 to discuss use of balloons for psychological varfare. A0FC addressed a briefing memorandum to DCI on 12 February 1951, Suhji Balloons for Carrying Pd Material to Soviet Areas. 2. In Septembor 1950 the NPSB requested that Cla should represent all interested agencies of this Government and should acconiingly take steps to develop, procure and stockpile an appropriate number of scientifically designed balloons for future propaganda use in coniitions of international emergency, At moetinzs of the NPSB on 13 February 1941 and 11 June 195) 4t was agreed that OPC would procure and stockpile 1,000 large leaflet balloons for use by the appropriate agency when and if such use vas authorised. The Board also agreed that inquiries which the various govern- mental agencies Chr ridcn HAL
14-00000 iran eaten ze. on om 2 = ‘mental agencies might receive concerning use of balloons would be answered to the effect"that the matter is under continuous study by agencies of the Government but disclosure of results at this time would not be in the publie interest," 3e A perasal of tho NPS8 minutes sinse June 1951 did not indicate further consideration by that group of the subject of balloons. from this we must infer that CIA still bears the responsibility of the commitment made by Mr, Wiener for procurement. 4. For your information this research and devolopment has been con= £. General Millia with ONR along with ONK'a program of comle ray research, Woe/obligated to ONR to deny a newspaper access to those drawings, specifications, movies and reports which bear a SECRET classification. §. I might make one amall suggestion that since Mr. Blair Moody is now a Senator and running for re-election in the naxt election, 1t might be posslble to solicite hia aid in bringing Mr. Scripps in line with adopted policy regarding balloons should it become necessary. sak
CONFIDENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS! officer draten: Under each commen’ a line should be drawn acr with the number fn the "To" column. before furthor routing. This Revorl a doe ce we eel ee ee ee GFFICER'S | to [Room NO: RECEIVED OAWwARO INCTIALS we pen a cael _ 20k ah” j 2004 ca VAC 13 38 pm eetartene cena tmemen Fy we eee en pees me teem names Prarmanietn mee Tae * SA cevete oe Poerngneemr nner oe flareen eter = mmmmanemere nt a 7 & CONFIDENTIAL cee BO. sie ieee *'* tion (see reparate sheet) ghould be aps eheet and each comment numbered to correspond Each officer should infttajifcheck tark insuffictont) nd Fouttng Sheet should b@ returned to Kevist ry. used in the "To" column, ACCESSION NO date RECEIVED INS A. COMMENTS ttached ia the Memorandum for the eeurd mentioned in our telephone discussion 25 March 1952. Drawings land specifications of thin item ~ re in the possession of RDD, although the information is also ion hand at General Mills. It carries a SEORET classification der our contractual arrangements ith the U. S. Navy. Questions: