PROCUREMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP68-00069A000200030058-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 58
• Content Type: MINUTES

Approved For Release 2006/09/27: CIA-RDP68-00069A000200030058-0
Security Information
PSC-Mml
20 October 1953
PROCUREMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
on
FOREIGN LANGUAGE PUBLICATIONS
11inutes of the first meeting held at 1ho0, 20 October 1953 in 2125
"N"r Bldg. -
:Ca The following representatives were present:
Mr. George Pope, State, member ' /
Major M. F. Donlan, AFOIN, member '`
Captain R. C. Laidlaw, AFOIN, alternate
Mr. George Pughe, AFOIN, observer
Mr. Ivey Iglesrud, AFOIN, observer '
Cmdr. H. F. Perrenot, ONI, member
Lta Cmdr. W. C. Kruse, ONI, alternate
Mr. James G. Chandler, ORR, observer
II. Discussion
A. The Chairman opened the meeting by quoting pertinent paragraphs
from NSCID-16, discussing general responsibilities of the Advisory
Committee on Foreign Publications and the relationships and
responsibilities of the Procurement Subcommittee with the other
subcommittees, Reference and Exploitation.
B., Copies of a status report on the Foreign Branch, CIA Library,
were distributed to all members and the relationships between
this. Foreign Branch and the State Department were discussed.
...}''`Under the Agenda heading "Exchange of Information on Procurement"
the following points were discussed.
(1) The question was raised as to whether any follow-up
procurement action was being taken by any of. the agencies
as a result of the publication in the Monthly List of Russian
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CONFIDENTIAL
Security Information.
PSC-M-l
20 October 1953
Accessiofis of"USSR publications identified but not located in
the United States. The Air Force representative reported that
collection requests for selected items were forwarded to the
Air Attaches for action. It was further reported that CIA
sends copies of the MLRA to certain collectors for guidance
as to what publications are already available in Washington
and which ones are lacking. Further study of this problem
is desirable in order that specific collection requests may
be coordinated for desirable items, recognizing the fact that
some of the missing publications may have no value and that
collection should be limited to those needed for the research
program,
D. The Air Force representative emphasized the extreme importance
of open published literature to the research program on the
Soviet. Bloc. and deplored the economy measures which may result
in reducing the overseas collection program. He suggested that
it would be highly Idesirable.to have two Publications Procure-
ment Officers in Moscow, one of whom should be a subject
specialist '.n science and technology. It was also pointed out
that additional PPOs could be used effectively in Western Europe
particularly in Helsinki, Stockholm, Prague, and Vienna.
Discussio> brought out the fact that increasing the number of
Publications Procurement Officers would be very difficult and
even maittaining the status quo was a serious problem due to
budgetary limitations imposed by Congress and the apparent
desire to keep the number of Embassy personnel. at as low a number
as possible. Suggestions were made that it would be desirable
and pro,ably possible to send qualified personnel who have the
necessfi7 linguistic ability and book trade knowledge to certain
places in Europe on a temporary duty status for perhaps six
month.. All present recognized that this would be a second
choic,. substitute for full-time Publications Procurement officers,
but Fnouid be explored in case it is impossible to provide
additional full-time PPOs. The Air Force representative thought
Air Farce might finance one person on MY.
The Javr representative was doubtful but thought it might be
possible, for example, to send someone from 0MWAVGf.U to one of
the Scandinavian countries provided that they had a qualified
pf.,son available in Germany. The State representative reporte6
tt.at qualified personnel were available in State but that funds
'.I>r such a trip would be difficult to obtain.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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PSC4M-1
20 October 1953
A, The next item discussed concerned the need for providing
prospective assignees to publications procurement activity
with a basic education in the book business and detailed
briefings on requirements as well as continuous guidance,
evaluation of effort, and encouragement while they are in the
field. Serious attempts have been made to do this in the past
and it was recognized that renewed efforts to provide the
collectors in the field with all possible useful information
and up-to-date requirements must be made if the collection
program is to reach its full potential.
B. The State representative suggested that one means of providing
orientation and background information for field collection
Personnel would be the preparation of dossiers
for each post, such dossiers to include such
items as book trade organization and practices, lists of book
stores with their specialities and names of personnel to
contact, lists of libraries and librarians in the area which
might be helpful and any information concerning prices, pay-
ment methods, accounting procedures and export restrictions
which might be helpful. Some information of this type already
exists in the files of Foreign Branch and further consideration
will be given to compiling such dossiers at the next meeting.
A. After some further discussion it was decided that the immediate
efforts of this-committee should be devoted to the following
three items:
(1) Strengthening of the field collection effort.
(2) Centralization of records concerning lAC receipts
of Soviet Bloc serial publications.
(3) Coordination of requirements for serial publications.
V. Action
A. Two working groups were appointed to explore the three immediate
problems.
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 Approved For Release 2006/09/27: CIA-RDP68-00069A000200030058-0
CONFIDENTIAL
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PSC4M-1
20 October 1953
(1) The Air Force representatives will study the problem
of strengthening the field collection effort.
(2) The CIA representatives will explore the capabilities
for maintaining a record of serial subscriptions placed and a
central record of receipts within the IAC of Soviet Bloc
serial publications. Both working groups will report to the
Chairman in time for their reports to be reproduced and
disseminated prior to the next meeting.
The next meeting will be held in 2125 "M" Bldg. at 14OO on
1? November 1953.
241 A 9a
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