ARTICHOKE CONFERENCE, 15 JULY 1953

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00144999
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 22, 2024
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: July 30, 1953

Chief, Security Research Staff
Chief, Technical Branch
ARTICHOKE Conference, 15 July 1953
30 July 1953
� 1. On Thursday, 15 July 1953, between 2:00 and 3:15 PM, an
ARTICHOKE Conference was held in the SO Conference Room 2065 I
Building. Present at this Conference wer 'ee....4743121=7-4ft-1402411Met,
��
1 ''�5t4� :jAa-?4,AtikiVaktrie ' � -�ktalani==fterpft$
_
fertWil representing SO;tr.dX.-Q01,4tfiarepresenting TSS;C,71
4-ttiatiag,W4110 representing the Medical
up esenting the Director's Office and OSI; and..iiiMieifif
1C.asii, . representing DDP.
,.A....j7
2. tatetia=ti opened the Conference by introducing
JaVat as the DDP representative.
. 3. 4=-7."'"'"41-, stated the Sidetone Delay machine had been
delivered by ''''st..A...1....ge - -irgrMi�-'�-� of Chicago to an and0..114121%,.
of the Technical Branch and others of:SO had examined the machine.
=0:=1 stated that the examination had been of a general .
nature and had had agreed to-turn the Sidetone Delay Device over
to us as soon as the paper work was completed. CLItt=fex-
plained that after certain studies and tests were made by the
Technical Branch IRB, the device would be turned over to TSS
for their study and any tests they cared to'rnake in connection with
this device...
� 4. Several newspaper clippings which bore directly on
ARTICHOKE matters were displayed. 1?=�4,�"Mr=0 then discussed
the situation of a former Agency official who had become a
chronic alcoholic and who, at the present time, was undergoing
operative treatment in Dallas, Texas, for a possible brain
tumor. This individual had called the Agency prior to the
operation and warned that when given certain types of anes-
thetics (sodium pentothal) previously he had been known to talk
coherently. The matter was taken care of by placing an SSD .
representative in the operation room and by bringing the various
personnel participating in the operation under the Secrecy Agree-
ment. stated that the subject did talk extensively under
the influence of sodium pentothol and revealed internal problems
of the Agency. et=lear added that he was acquainted with the
details in the case.
0,AN,A+046500ew.,___
-CP
�05W3..;ai42L,
-
�
�
� 5. then commented that ,nis t),,e ot v,ing naci
been a so�ce of gre. concern to himself and others
operations work and staled he hoped that the ARTICEIOKE efforts
to produce some method that would perhaps guarantee anlnesias on
the parts of those knowing of Agency operations in vital spots
would be successful. He stated that some individuals in the
Agcncy had to know tremendous amounts of information and if any
way could be found to produce amnesias for this type of informa-
tion -- for instance, after the individual had left the Agency --
it would be a remarkable thing. stated the netd for
amnesias was particularly great in operations work. arterettr=par
and63=1=St both explained that work was continually being
done in an effort to produce controlled amnesias by various
'means.
6. ele.,=ftenf called attention to the fact that at the
preceeding conference, -..tzt;se=244.L..,..*-7- had advanced the idea of
testing new methods, new chemicals and new .techniques (and com-
binations thereof) on certain carefully selected employees of -
the Agency, probably individuals in the Training groups. CM!
ati=VIIpointed out also the matter was scheduled for discussion
at this time. A discussion followed in which a11 hands were in
agreement that if the testing could properly be protected and
controlled and if it were thoroughly governed by the Medical
Staff that the work would be of extreme value both from an ex-
perience point of view for those tested and from a research
point of view for ARTICHOKE.-,==as stated.tHat it
was his. idea that staff employees (in Training) be carefully
screened and that they be-tested on a volunteer basis with any
new or untried chemicals or techniques provided that the Medical
Staff was given complete authority to determine whether cr not
such testing was sale. insisted that nrctection.
of Agency personnel would be paramount in such matters and only
after certification by the Medical Staff and the Medical Staff
completely handling the chemicals or drugs in question could
the testing then be carried out. It was suggested by agreement
*among all hands that the matter be taken up with certain key
officials in the Training Branch as to whether or not they con-
sidered the matter feasible and sound anclt,='!".:=20 stated he
andAUtitli&s,twould approach the Training officials. It was
further agreed that after this had been done and basic details
ironed out, the matter should then be taken up at the proper
level with the top administrative people of the Agency for
approval.
,
Irgat;,;40.4.i...44401472406.5414
� �
"rcR", '","'r�r7rtr'"rr"!r7t'...l!FrTrt'rrrfr77.7nT'n'r7:'"e"TP7r7r,'Zrfrr!.r7!7tT'.rr.-Trn--tv-N�.t.y-m�-,
� Y
. � � � -
B. At this point in the conference, 'tt,..;=:,�"'7,t=dclistributed
� a paper entitled "ARTICHOKE; Restatement of Program". dated
16 July 1953 and signed byl1/40,...(112440Eacisa.':. 4414nztgassm.
explained that the paper had been prepared the direction of �
and was being, distributed to all hands for their
study and comment. �; '�fr.ty=154=4;24,144.then stated that the paper
Set forth in general a restatement of the ARTICHOKE program and'
redefined certain proposed work in connection with the project.
Iti=t12`41,43.4=7112# stated he wanted to make certain that the ARTI- �
. CHOKE mission was entirely sound and we were handling with the
proper priority the various broad fields we were studying.
'�trIX:110.ZatiMIS also stated he wanted to find out, in the opinion
�of those assembled, whether or not the work was going too far or
not far enough or f it were properly in line.d1MWMatilatil=trair
stated it was his principal desire to make certain the entire
ARTICHOKE group and all participating divisions completely and
totally backed the ARTICHOKE work. conclpded
by stating that he hoped at the next meeting we would have a ftill
discussion concerning the ARTICHOKE work and that if any of the
participating groups or individuals present had any ideas or
suggestions that they would he taken up at this time.
9. Following A-ztria--' Intt,,discussion,
stated that TSS was making successful progress in items of in-
terest to ARTICHOKE. stated that in connection
with thei,�=:-4"- some progress was being made and
would work with the Surgeon General's Office in this
0-
connection. C.:a.,r/ further stated thatikcj�':'*-= tit intended
to talk with all doctors that he could reach that were involved
in medical decisions in the case andi?;-.70.would attempt to
assemble and study the medical histories. In adclition,irsa
will, in the future, approach the principal in the case if _
proper and suitable cover can be established to p..rmit,16-'rf,.-,
to do this.
10. tA2=1:22,7then briefly reported for OSI and dis-
cussed the matter of the communication contemplated with the
officials engaging in work somewhat parallel. to that .
of ARTICHOKE. .-,�'.r.�,:ett,r4texplained in some detail the back-
ground of the, letter and then passed out copies of
the OSI reply to the Vi..;:atztijofficials for study by the group.
During a general discussion that followed, F,M=X? pointed
�
�
�
UC P
. 1,"4"*""."'"'"'"Irre?""1!"1"04t*���!""r?7...�,"?...-:9..��-�,.
. . � . - � . . � . . . . . .
��� � � .
a.
out that working with ic,fe,,,....*-4/1 scientific pcoDle . giii. be
very advantageous since he stated that thegovernment
permitted certain activities which were not permitted by the
United States government (i.e. experiments on anthrax, etc.).
11. Following this, 4r-(4,7Dot stated-that he felt that
if the ARTICHOKE organization would set up a list of require-
ments for information, he would survey the possibilities of the ...
transmission of these requirements to the various field stations
and the various desks in the operations end. ,Litittatlf4also
- ?-f-,,,,, �
suggested that possibly a requirement sent to the Security Officers
both in Ks7. .-'7,e4 and 21
might be productive of good results. *
,11e
they regarded his
ideas as sound and would assemble a list of requirements and
give them to him in the immediate future.
12.1atilQ6/-1-:,... .-,' ' -discussed briefly certain interesting
aspects of the delivery of food by the U. S. Government to East
Germany with the possible charges of food poisoning, etc. which
the Soviets would make against free food.
se,f-vrekt1�43sa--r4t.:'":. "0111A'Ott'C;PVIreerN0,1fteejl"PS*-!'.1.0.41;$44.e.""'ff7',6044,t�,4154Pe*IN,....
' � �
-
- 6-,���
����
. �
2'1444r4.4r.
14. Crwr"aftwo.i.si,Z.Lattal*-2-t- made the concluding statement of the
conference by pointing out that in general the ARTICHOKE work
was quite well defined but often the "by-products" of ARTICHOKE
experimentation and research would be of interest to many di-
visions throughout the Agency. - =-11111-plained that
where a discovery was made through the ARTICHOKE efforts and
did not apply to the ARTICHOKE work immediately that discovery
whether chemical or otherwise would be given at once to the pro-
perly interested division of the Agency.
5'3 �1.c?
a..6����viusaArtao.��� �
COPY
)5. The rriceti. adjourned at approximately 3 � 1 alter
Thursday, 20 August 1953, had been selected as the time of the .
next meeting. The meeting will be held as usual in the SO Con-
ference Room.
p.
a
011/2=7
COPY16.overa.=&"6,
44,4kt". A1/4--...iv-..INN,44e
Norrrroms.7",
5%) 9
�N"r
.1���004";.
"�"'
-IceNa - MIIISINyKp."/C0.4.01rFy z 0.404,1,0.� � �������, �
�
a.