ARRB REQUEST: CIA-IR-36: HANDLING OF CABLES IN 1963
Originator: ARRB
From: ARRB
To: CIA/HRG
Document date: 03/10/1998
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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1704-10336-10035

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

file cy

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

REENA TEASSANITIZED

10 March 1998

MEMORANDUM FOR: T. Jeremy Gunn, Esq.

Executive Director, ARRE

FROM:

J. Barry Harrelson

Senior Reviewer, HRP

SUBJECT:

ARRB Request No. CIA-IR-36, For Information

On Processing of Incoming Cables

1. The following and the attachment are responsive to

subject request.

The attachment is an extract of the

pertinent text from a memorandum provided by the Directorate

of Operations.

2.

If you have any questions concerning this response,

please advise.

Now

J. Barry Harreldor

Att.

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13-00000

ATTACHMENT TO 10 MARCH 1998 MEMORANDUM RE: CIA-IR-36

1.

Per the Review Board staff's request the following

is a brief explanation of how the Directorate of Operations

(DO) processed cables in the 1963/1964 time-frame. As we

are unable to locate any definitive records on the subject,

and in all probability none ever existed, the information

provided is based solely on the memory of DO officers

familiar with

procedures in place at the time.

2. Each area division in the DO maintained and staffed

its own registry. Although each registry was configured to

meet each division's unique requirements, there were common

functions performed by all the registries to include:

collecting, sorting, and delivering of incoming cables;

maintenance of incoming and outgoing cable "chronos";

collecting and delivering of incoming and outgoing pouch

material; and the issuance and maintenance of "pseudo and

alias" card

files.

3. To the specific question regarding processing of

cables, on a daily basis, usually six day per week, each

registry collected its incoming cable traffic from

a central

processing point, called the Cable Secretariat, an office

within the Office of the Director prior to its transfer to

the Office of Communications, Directorate of Support in

February 1972. The incoming cables were then sorted by

registry personnel according to pre-defined guidelines.

These guidelines were unique to each division and were

frequently altered to meet changing operational

requirements.

Sorted cables were then delivered

to specific

operational/area desks.

A "chrono" copy of each was

maintained, on a temporary basis, usually for 90 days and

then destroyed.

4.

Outgoing cables were created and coordinated by

appropriate operational/area desks and usually released by

the chief of the division or a designated releasing officer.

"Released" cables were then hand delivered or sent by

pneumatic tube system

( a system long ago dismantled from

the original Headquarters building) to Cable Secretariat for

processing into the Agency's communication network.

"Chrono" copies of outgoing cables were forwarded to the

registry for a 90 day hold and then destroyed.

5. It is important to note that the cable scenario

outlined here is general in nature and that throughout their

existence registries and their procedures were frequently

altered until the registry system as described above was

eliminated in the mid-1980's.

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ABMINISTRATIVE _INTERNAL-USE-ONLY

From the Desk of Mary Lou Cummings

DCI/RO-39058

NOTE FOR:

FROM:

J. Barry Harrelson

(Mary Lou Cummings >

OFFICE:

DCIIRO

DATE:

03/24/98 10:37:06 AM

SUBJECT:

ARRB Request No. CIA-IR-36, For Information on Release of Incoming Cables.

In response to you facsimile of 19 March, the DCI area/RO concurs in your decision to release your memo of 10 March with attachment

to the AARB.

CC:

Sent on 24 March 1998 at 10:37:06 AM

ABMINISTRATIVE. INTERNAL USE ONLY

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