LETTER TO W. PARK ARMSTRONG, JR. FROM R. H. HILLENKOETTER RE REPORTING POST CONCERNED WITH AFFAIRS IN THE SOVIET/SATELLITE AREA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: GUIDANCE FOR CIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005622732
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: October 26, 2011
• Case Number: F-2011-00518
• Publication Date: June 29, 1950

WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
Mr. L Park Armstrong, Jr.
Special Assistant, Intelligence
Department of State
v}lashin;ton, D.C.
Dear ?vIr. Armstrong:
29 JUN; 19'%
ER-1-939
In connection with efforts currently being made by the
Department of State to establish reporting posts concerned with
affairs in the Soviet/satellite area (as indicated, for example,
in Department of State outgoing Airgraa dated 7 March 1950 to
Certain Diplomatic and Consular Officers, entitled: "Proposed
Establishment of Peripheral Re-porting System"), the. following
comments and suggestions may be of interest and value. It will
be noted that reference is made, not only to peripheral intelligence
coverage from the post concerned, namely Istanbul, Turkey, but also
to Turkey itself, the adequate intelligence coverage of which is
considered of particular significance.
The importance of adequate intelligence coverage in Turkey,
if only because of its precarious and chronically threatened
situation on the Soviet/satellite periphery, cannot be over-
emphasized. Turkey's._resistance to imperialistic Soviet/Co-mmunist
expansionism has been of immense significance, not only to the
dear and Middle East, but also to the US and other western
democratic nations. These US interests make it imperative that
adequate US intelligence coverage of developments and trends in
Turkey be constantly provided for the benefit of US policy-makers.
The.general elections held in Turkey on 14 May 1950 resulted
.in the victory by a large majority of the opposition Democratic
Party, in startling contrast to predictions made by official US
representatives in the field. Despite these predictions, CIA
held a contrary view, in the belief that field reports were not
based upon a thorough survey of national sentiment. The pre-
election CIA estimate indicated a Democratic victory as entirely
possible, although this forecast was necessarily qualified because
APPROVED FOR RELEASE - CIA INFO^ DATE: 09-26-2011
NW 29391 - a~a
 of the unanimity with which predictions in the field expressed
the opposing view. It is felt that the very severe additional
burdens imposed upon US officials in Turkey in fulfillment of
their duties in connection with the application of the various
US aid programs have the effect of weakening essential intelligence
coverage. The repition of misjudgments, such as that recently
demonstrated in field election forecasts, might in the future
lead to serious misconceptions in the minds of US policy-makers,
with potentially dangerous consequences.
Because the opportunities for intelligence coverage from
United States posts within the Soviet/satellite states are being
swiftly reduced --- and, in the case of Turkey's immediate
neighbor, Bulgaria, entirely eliminated -- it has become of
increasing consequence that overt sources of information on the
Soviet/satellite area be exploited to the fullest possible
extent from peripheral posts. Turkey, because of its geographical
position and political orientation, offers (in the city of
Istanbul) one of the best opportunities for peripheral intelligence
of this increasingly significant category.
It is therefore strongly recommended that special efforts
be made to strengthen intelligence coverage within Turkey to
include such measures as are suggested below:
a. An increase in the number of personnel assigned to
general intelligence coverage in Turkey, particularly
political intelligence. Such personnel should not be
burdened with excessive administrative duties, which
would interfere with their intelligence activities.
b. The assignment to Turkey of personnel with competence
in the Turkish language.
c. The requirement that personnel travel about Turkey
for purposes of observation, and arrangements to make
the fulfillment of such a requirement possible, as well
as profitable from an intelligence viewpoint. (Observation
by IAC agency representatives in Turkey continues to be
generally confined to the principal cities of-Ankara,
Istanbul and, to a lesser extent, Izmir. )
d. A concerted and vigorous effort, in co-operation
.with CIA and other interested agencies, to establish
a coordinated intelligence gathering organization in
NW29391- ab~
 Istanbul, adequately equipped to collect and forward
available political, economic, military, and scientific
information on the Soviet/satellite area. In this
connection all possible inter-agency support should be
given to the preliminary steps already informally
undertaken in Istanbul to establish a functioning
peripheral reporting unit.
Sincerely,
R. H. H! LE-"< ?tT CER
R:-.R ADPv:i.< , USN
%!>=i.:%CTOR Oz CENTRAL INTELL.GENCE
NW 29391 -yes