ao O O ADDENDUM: IS, CID; 6/18/96, PMD:pmd (CONT. ) b) PCIs David Dawson, Francis Swanson, Homer Rouse, Fred White, George Alsup, Gary Howard Simer, Fred Eng., Melvin L. Weatherington and James Kemble La Fleur -— Appeal - These individuals were unable to provide any information relating to the Kennedy assassination that would justify a public compromise of their identities. It is unclear whether these individuals are still alive. Absent a showing either that they have been contacted about and have agreed to the proposed disclosure or, if they are dead, that an attempt was made to contact their survivors, the CID cannot support the release. Tab 44 - 60) No recommendation —- All sources mentioned were administered by the NSD; accordingly, the NSD should make . the appeal determinations. Acw|ttt 18 Docld: 32321270 Page 15
le ae SECRET Electronic Communication from Information Resources Division, FOIPA/JFK, to National Security Division, dated 6/5/96 Re: JFK Task Force (U) On 5/29/96, the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) voted to release information in 60 documents that would reveal the identities of 114 individuals who were described as potential criminal informants (PCI), potential security informants (PSI), security informants (SI), Cuban sources, sources of information, confidential sources (CS) and established sources. (U) NSD has reviewed referenced Electronic Communication (EC) and requests that the JFK Task Force pursue appeal of documents containing FBI informant identities and symbol numbers, where indicated, in the documents attached to this EC numbered as follows: #1 thru #12 #14 thru #38 #54 NSD continues to maintain that the identity of bonafide sources/informants should not be released since these individuals have received expressed promises of confidentiality. To violate this promise of confidentiality would serve to undermine the FBI's ability to obtain vital information from potential future sources of information and, even more important, jeopardize the personal safety of informants still living and their respective families. NSD disagrees with the ARRB position that the historical aspect of the release of the identity of these individuals outweighs the potential harm to them. Once confidentiality is granted, the FBI is obligated to protect the identity of bona fide sources/informants absent statements by them to the contrary. (U) , #13 - NSD recommends the FBI appeal the release of information concerning certain aspects of the microphone surveillance of Marina Oswald's residence based on a recommendation from the Advanced Telephony Unit, Engineering Research Section of the FBI at Quantico, VA. ($0(u) . #39 = NSD recommends the FBI appeal the 5 release of information from a technical source monitorin telephone conversations| between the United States and they SECRET Docld: 32321270 Page 16
. _ SECRET (soviet Union) inasmuch as disclosure of same would have an adverse © 3) ffect on foreign relations between the United States and Russia, as well as other countries, should they be confronted with public confirmation of the U.S. Government's met onet »£ pet diplomatic and other telephone conversations | #40 thru #50 - NSD recommends the a appeal the release of information that would reveal telephone surveillance of the Soviet Embassy, Washington, D.C. and investigation of Soviet Officials. As articulated by the Task Force, investigative methods and techniques such as telephone surveillance may vary in application, but do not normally diminish in importance with time. Public exposure of the FBI's specific use of same would cause harm to the FBI's foreign counterintelligence investigative capabilities. In addition, the Russian Government would likely complain that technical coverage of their Embassy or diplomats in the United States constituted a violation of the Vienna convention. -Finally, the United States is currently allied with Russia, with Russian troops under United States command in Bosnia; and the FBI is currently attempting to establish friendly relations with Russian Government officials to fight terrorism, organized crime, drugs and other criminal activities. Revelation of our investigation of a Soviet official and use of technical surveillance would harm these developing relationships and could cause the Russian Government to feel compelled to publicly address these embarrassing revelations. ()(w) #51 - NSD recommends the FBI appeal the release of information which reveals technical surveillance of Hungarian officials or establishments as such disclosure would compromise investigative methods and harm U.S. foreign relations with Hungary raising much the same concerns as are addressed above with regard to Russia. (RQ (WO #52 & #53 - NSD recommends the FBI appeal the release of FBI file numbers concerning the Soviet Union,{India and Yugoslavia. Two such file numbers to be released contain top secret code word information received from NSA concerning Russia and India which NSA believed were of investigative interest to the FBI. To reveal this file number would reveal NSA's highly sensitive interception of traffic concerning Russia and India and the FBI's interest therein.| (S) #55 & #56 - NSD recommends the FBI appeal the release of information which reveals technical surveillance of the Polish Government's newspaper and investigation of Polish officials as : such disclosure would compromise investigative methods and ve \ an adverse effect on U.S. foreign relations with Poland. tu) Docld: 32321270 Page i?