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04-10326-100:

2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

MHENO :

97-7161666

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SENSIND:

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PAGE:

1

/

FRP :

STAFF

CONF: C/OCC

/ OCDORECORD,

ODPD,

INFO: DC/OCC, EUR/GA,

FILE (0/P)

EUR/IGI,

LIMITED,

MDSX,

97 7161666

ASP

PAGE

0700232 MAR 97

DIRECTOR 2589'26

SECRE

STAFF

I TO :

T

PRIORITY BONN.

070023Z DIRECTOR 258926

FROM: LIMITED DISSEM CHIEF/OCC INFO

SLUGS:

WNINTEL

EUR/GA,

EUR/ LGL

(SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STATION ASSISTANCE

REF: NONE.

TEXT:

ACTION REQUIRED: REQUEST STATION CONTACI FORMER EMPLOYEE

WHO RETIRED UNDER COVER AND RESIDES IN WACHTBERG - PECH.

2. IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE PRESIDENT<JFK ASSASSINATION>

RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992, HOS REQUESTS STATION'S ASSISTANCE

IN DELIVERING THE INFORMATION BELOW TO IDEN.

- TEAR

LINE-

4 MARCH 1997

DEAR COLLEAGUE:

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS IN DOCUMENTS THAT ARE

BEING REVIEWED FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC UNDER PUBLIC LAW 102-526

*OF 26 OCTOBER 1992, THE PRESIDENT<JOHN>F. <KENNEDY ASSASSINATION>

RECORDS COLLECTION

ACT OF 1992.

THIS MANDATES THE PUBLIC RELEASE

OF ALL INFORMATION IN THESE DOCUMENTS,

INCLUDING YOUR NAME WHERE

IT APPEARS, UNLESS THE ORIGINATING AGENCY CAN PROVE BY CLEAR AND

CONVINCING

EVIDENCE TO A PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED BOARD THAT ONE

OR MORE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS APPLY.

EVEN THEN, THE RELEASE OF THE

INFORMATION MAY ONLY BE POSTPONED FOR NO MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

THOSE EXCEPTIONS AS THEY APPEAR IN THE ACT FOLLOW.

VERY PRO-RELEASE AND REQUIRES A BALANCING OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

UNDER THE BOARD'S INTERPRETATION OF THE ACT, YOUR NAME CANNOT

BE REDACTED FROM THE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELEASED UNLESS WE CAN

PROVIDE EVIDENCE THAT THIS RELEASE WOULD POSE A CREDIBLE THREAT TO

YOU PERSONALLY, YOUR FAMILY, OR ANY SENSITIVE ACTIVITY OR

PERSON(S) YOU MAY HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH IN THE PAST. IF YOU

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BELIEVE THAT ANY OF THESE CONCERNS WOULD BE RAISED FROM THE PUBLIC

RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, PLEASE CONTACT BETH MILLS AT (703) 356-0285/

OR 1-800-447-2211 OR VIA LETTER TO P.O. BOX 1626.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

20013).

YOU WILL NEED TO PROVIDE PERTINENT DETAILS SO THAT A

COMPELLING CASE CAN BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.

(SEE FOLLOWING

GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OR RECORDS. IF THE

BOARD ORDERS THE RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, ITS RULING CAN BE REVERSED

ONLY BY THE PRESIDENT. BECAUSE THE BOARD MUST COVER HUNDREDS OF

THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IT WILL BE

CONSIDERING DOCUMENTS AT AN ACCELERATING PACE AND WE CANNOT

PROJECT WHEN IT MAY REVIEW A DOCUMENT CONTAINING YOUR NAME.

THEREFORE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF APPROPRIATE.

SINCERELY,

(SIGNED BETH MILLS)

FOLLOWS ARE THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF

RECORDS :

*DISCLOSURE OF<ASSASSINATION>RECORDS OR PARTICULAR INFORMATION IN

* ASSASSINATION>RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC MAY BE POSTPONED SUBJECT TO

THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS ACT IF THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING

EVIDENCE THAT--

(1) THE THREAT TO THE MILITARY DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE

OPERATIONS, OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES

*POSED BY THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>IS OF SUCH

GRAVITY THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND SUCH PUBLIC

DISCLOSURE WOULD REVEAL--

(A) AN INTELLIGENCE AGENT WHOSE IDENTITY CURRENTLY REQUIRES

PROTECTION

(B) AN INTELLIGENCE SOURCE OR METHOD WHICH IS CURRENTLY

UTILIZED,

BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND WHICH HAS NOT BEEN

OFFICIALLY

DISCLOSED, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE

CONDUCT OF INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES; OR

(C) ANY OTHER MATTER CURRENTLY RELATING TO THE MILITARY

DEFENSE,

INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF

THE

UNITED STATES, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRABLY

IMPAIR

THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.

(2) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION> RECORD WOULD

REVEAL THE NAME OR IDENTITY OF A LIVING PERSON WHO PROVIDED

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND WOULD POSE A

SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO THAT PERSON;

(3) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION> RECORD COULD

REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CONSTITUTE CRE WARRANTED INVASION OF

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PERSONAL PRIVACY, AND THAT INVASION OF PRIVACY IS SO SUBSTANTIAL

THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST;

*

(4) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE ASSASSINATION›RECORD WOULD

COMPROMISE THE EXISTENCE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONFIDENTIALITY

CURRENTLY REQUIRING PROTECTION BETWEEN A GOVERNMENT AGENT AND A

INTEREST; OR

(5) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD

REVEAL A SECURITY OR PROTECTIVE PROCEDURE CURRENTLY UTILIZED, OR

REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE UTILIZED, BY THE SECRET SERVICE OR

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING GOVERNMENT

OFFICIALS, AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SO HARMFUL THAT IT

OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

•TEAR

LINE -

3.

IF STATION WANTS, YOU MAY OFFER IDEN THE POSSIBILITY OF

COMMUNICATING WITH HEADQUARTERS VIA CABLE TRAFFIC RATHER THAN BY

TELEPHONE OR LETTER.

IN MANY CASES THE RESPONSE CONTAINS

SENSITIVE IF NOT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. ALL PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

OF THIS LETTER HAVE HAD CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS; FOLLOWING ARE

ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

WHY IS MY NAME IN THE<JFK ASSASSINATION>RECORDS?

WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY BUT YOUR NAME MAY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN A

CABLE OR DOCUMENT, OR YOU MAY HAVE COORDINATED OR SIGNED A CABLE

*OR DOCUMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE< ASSASSINATION.>

B. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

IT MEANS YOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF ALL

*DOCUMENTS PERTINENT TO THE<ASSASSINATION.> THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN

RELEASED TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION

(NARA) WITH THE NAME REMOVED AND. IF WE DO NOT MAKE A COMPELLING

CASE THE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD WILL RELEASE NEW VERSIONS OF THE

DOCUMENTS WITH THE NAMES. THE FIRST REVIEW OF NAMES WILL BE THIS

SUMMER AND IT WILL CONTINUE AS DOCUMENTS ARE REVIEWED.

ONCE THE

BOARD RULES THE DOCUMENTS IN QUESTION MUST BE RELEASED IN 30 DAYS.

c.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES "RELEASE" MEAN?

IT MEANS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENT VIA

NARA.

THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS WAITING FOR ACCESS TO

THE MATERIAL SO THAT THEY CAN RESEARCH THE VARIOUS CONSPIRACY

THEORIES.

WE KNOW OF SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY PUT

THE INFORMATION IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS SO IT CAN BE EASILY SEARCHED.

D.

WHAT IF I DON'T WANT MY NAME RELEASED?

YOU AND WE WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THE PRESIDENTIALLY APPOINTED

REVIEW BOARD THAT YOUR SITUATION MEETS THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN

THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS. (TO

BE ABSOLUTELY FRANK, THIS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO AND THE

VERY FEW CASES WHICH WE HAVE WON HAVE BEEN BASED ON VERY SPECIFIC

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AND COMPELLING REASONS.)

SENSIND:

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

IF RELEASE OF YOUR NAME IS NOT A PROBLEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO

ANYTHING. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME

RELEASED, YOU NEED TO

ADVISE US OF THAT FACT AND EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHY RELEASE WOULD BE

HARMFUL TO YOU AND NATIONAL SECURITY.

WE HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST

RELEASE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COVER MECHANISM WITHOUT SUCCESS TO

DATE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE EFFORT. THE BOARD HAS NOT BEEN AND

IS NOT LIKELY TO BECOME SYMPATHETIC TO A PRINCIPLE BASED

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IF MY NAME IS RELEASED, WHAT ABOUT MY COVER STATUS?

THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF YOUR TRUE NAME

AND THE AGENCY WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE

THE VIABILITY_OF CONTINUED COVER PROTECTION.

HUM 4-82.

CL BY: 2224018, CL REASON: 1. 1.5(C), DECL ON:

GECO STAFF 4.0.1.>

RELNO: DORELS0100640333

(CRAWFORD) ;

CHEF/OCC (WILLMSC, 32357) / AUTH: DC/OCC; COORD: EUR/IGL

EUR/GA (BERLIN),:

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