Evening star., 1953-11-06
\ New Security Order
Limits Agencies on
Information Barrier
Continued From First Page }

all hostile or destructive action
by. covert or overt means. in
Guiding espionage as well as
military action. and it is essen
tial that certain official informa-
ton affecting the national de-
fense be protected uniformly
against unauthorized disclosure. "
Three classif1cations are estab-
lished for official information re-
quiring protection: Top secret
secret and confidential
A fourth category from the
Truman order - restricted - is
eliminated.
Mr.. Brownell said this last
named was used as a "catch-all
device" that could permit agen-
cies to employ its secrecy safe
guard to cover their own "dere-
lictions."
Top Secret Limited.
The top secret category ap-
plies "only for defense informa-
tion or material which requires
the highest degree of protection. -
1t covers matter whose dis
closure could result in ex-
ceptionally grave damage to the
Nation. such as leading to a
definite break in diplomatic re-
lations affecting the defense OF
the United States, an armed at
tack against the United States
or its allies, a war. or the COM
promise OF military or defense
plans, or intelligence operations
or scientific or chronological
developments vital to the ma
tional defense "
The secret category is of SINH
lar tenor but somewhat mar
rover. and confidential" applies
simply to defense information
or material whose unauthorized
disclosure could be prejudicial
to the defense interests of the
United States"
The widest powers to classify
information rest in such agencies
as State. Defense, Commerce.
Treasury. Central Intelligence,
and related sensitive groups.
The Atomic Energy Commission
has it's own security laws,
In these agencies, the clasSifi-
cation authority is vested in
specially designated ''responsi-
BILE officers or employees"
Agencies Are Listed.
In II agencies with partial
but not primary responsibility
for national defense matters,
only the agency head can classify
material. These groups are:
Civil Aeronautics Board, De-
fenSe Transport Administration,
Department of Agriculture, De-
partment of Health, Education
and Welfare, Department of In
terror. Department of Labor
Federal communications Com
mission. Federal Power Commits
sion, National Science Founda.
ton, National Security Training
Commission, Panama Canal Co.
Post Office Department, Recon
struction Finance Corporation
Renegotiation Board, Small
Business Administration, Sub
versive Activities Control Board
and Tennessee Valley Authority
The following groups have NJ
responsibility for national de.
fenSe and lose their classified.
tion authority.
American Battle Monument.
Commission. Arlington Memoria
Amphitheater Commission. Com
mission of Fine Arts, Committe
on Purchases of Blind Mad
Products, Committee for Reel
procity Information, Commodit,
Exchange Commission, Export
Import Bank of WASHINGTON
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp
Federal Mediation and Concilia
tion Service, Federal Reserv
System, Federal Trade Commits
sion, Housing and Home Financ
Agency, Indian Claims Commits
sion. Interstate Commerce Com
mission, Missouri Basin Surve,
Commission, National Capita
Housing A u t h ority, Nationa
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, National Forest Reser
vation Commission, Nationa
Labor Relations Board, Nationa
Mediation Board, Railroad Re
tirement Board, Securities an,
Exchange Commission, Selectiv
Service System, Smithsonian In
stitution, United States Tariff
Commission, Veterans Admins
tration, Veterans Education Ap
peals Board and War Claim
Commission.
The new order gives the De
fence Secretary authority t
make such modification regard
ing dissemination or safekeep
ing of classified information il
connection with combat o
combat-related operations. as h
may desire.
Rules for Records.
The order makes the 'agencie
responsible for training admins
| tratiNe nerSnnnel and sets IL