TD (RE ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN INTERROGATION)

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00144766
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 22, 2024
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: August 31, 1945

dropped some information that should have been withheld. Because of this,
it was again difficult to properly evaluate the role of TD. After
consultations with the investigators in New York, the briefing was radically
changed and it was decided to send only two officers a.week whiO1 would allow
an extra day-of study per man. The subjects were carefully told in our
office that what they were to experience in New York City was an interrogation
procedure, and that they must always be on the alert, (naturally no mention
was made of TD). It was also decided to write out a short synopsis of their
real activities in OSS along with four other propositions all equally plausible
but completely false. All five propositions were given to the rcup at
and it then became their concern to determine which of the
five propositions was the correst one. At about this time a lie detector was
procured and each subject was routinely tested on this machine.
.5. Results: Any classified military information became much more
difficult to extract, both with and without TD. (The lie detector was quite
successful in some instances.) TD certainly contributes to the establishment
and maintenance of rapport and inspired a certain amount of confidence in the
individual. However, it does not by any Means deutrcy his personality
pattern and will not cause an individual to deliberately reveal any matter
which he considers secret. However, in several instances, it was felt that
the individual, because of the loss of inhibition, may have dropped items of
information which it is assumed he would not have done without the stimulus
of the substance. There can be no question that if rapport is destrcyed or
if the individual is put on his guard, even to the slightest degree, that TD -
will have no effect whatsoever. �
6.. I conducted the entire investigation in New York City for the past
ten days during which time three subjects were interviewed. Uy *pre-az:ion
is that TD is ad asset to interrogation and if I had to rate it on a se-ale
of ten I would assign. a rating to it of from one to two.
7. The most important element in obt,,inins information is the establish-
ment of rapport. This is accomplished (1) by using an indirect, subtle
approach, (2) by creating a friendly, pleasant envtronment, (3) By avoiding
any act that places an individual on his guard. TD seems to improve rapport
and it has the advanhape that the individual does not realize that he is under
the influence of any foreign agent. TD does-not rendeg;_an individual a
tool in the hands of an interrogator. Without the proper rapport and the
environment,, it is of no value. I have discussed this'entire.sub-ject with
and indicated to him the limitations of TO and it was his
impression that in view of the fact that TD was not an effective agent in
destroying an individual's ability to withhold information that he -could
see no real indication for it's use in the present set-up in
iiedical Services Office