LETTER: VIEWS ON DECLASSIFYING WARREN COMMISSION DOCUMENT
Originator: CIA
From: WITHHELD
To: DIRECTOR CIA
Document date: 10/15/1968
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 ⅓ 4

Traculty Rosetty

68-5/60

(Ollico of tha Director General

COMIIONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIAN SECURITY INTELLIGENCE, ORGANISATION?

/G.P.O. BOx No..5105BB,

MELBOURNE

10510

15 October, 1968.

Dear Rich,

Your Melbourne Station has sought my views

on the possibility of declassifying a Warren Commission

document in which reference is made to the ("Australian)

security servicel. The document in question is (CD.971)

dated 22nd May, 1964, together with an attachment dated

(29th November, 1963)

I would recommend strongly that CD. 971 and

(1)

(ii)

It has never been officially stated that there

is a "C.I.A. Canberra Station" or that

there are C.l.A. officers in (Australia.)

This has been avoided as a point of policy.

Publication of these facts would invoke a

spate of questions by the Press'and inüthe

Parliament, which would be contrary to the

national security interest, for example :

(a) Who approved the establishment of

the "C.l.A. (Canberra) Station"?

(b) What is its composition and location?

(c) What is its purpose in (Australia?

(Allegations have already been made

that C.l.A. is interfering in Aust-

(ralian domestic alfairs.)

(d)

With what (Australian) agencies does it

deal?

which has not hoon

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= on the possibility of declassifying a Warren Commission

• document in which reference is made to the ("'Australian:

security service". The document in question is CD.970

dated 22nd May, 1964, together with an attachment dated

(29th November, 1963?

I would recommend strongly that CD. 971 and

Its attachment should not on any account be

declassified or

publicly released for reasons which include

the following :

(1)

It has never been officially stated that there

is a "C.l.A. Canberra Station" or that

there are C.l.A. olficers in Australia./

This has been avoided as a point of policy.

(ii)

Publication of these facts would invoke a

spate of questions by the Press"and in the

. Parliament, which would be contrary to the

national security interest, for example :

(a) Who approved the establishment of

the "C.l.A. (Canberra) Station"?

(b) What is its composition and location?

(c) What is its. purpose in Australia?

(Allegations have already been made

that C.l.A. is interfering in Aust-

Palian domestic alfairs.)

(d) With what Australlan agencies does it

deal?

(A.S.l.S:, which has not been

publicly disclosed, could be brought

into discussion.)

(e) With what other foreign agencies does the

A. S.1.0. deal?

(8) What Ministerial control is there over

such dealings?

•100.00.

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SECRET

2.

(li)

Questions could be raised as to the investigation

by the A. S.1.0. of the (anonymous telephone)

calls, the validity of its quoted conclusion and

the result of its further enquiries.

I am giving a copy of this letter to your (Melbourne)

Station.

With kindest regards and best wishes.

Yours ritesting,

Wharto Afr

(IC. C.F. Spry.)

Richard Helms, Esq.,

Direcior,

Central Intelligence Agency,

Washington, D.C., 20505,

United States ol America.

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