NIS COMMITTEE MEETING NO. 16

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05597A000400020087-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 26, 1998
• Sequence Number: 87
• Publication Date: December 13, 1948
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Relea1999/09/01 : CIA-RDP78-0559700400020087-6
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AUTH- HR 700-2
DAT .
NIS COZ ZCTTE MEETING NO. 16
13 December 1948
1. Members present were as follows:
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Dr. Appleton State
Col, Bromley Army
Capt. Field Army
Lt. Col. DeHority Navy
Lt. Col. Gould Air Force
Maj. Gamber Air Force
CIA.(Chairman)
2. Meeting with the Corcmittee were the following collection
representatives of the several Agencies:
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Mr. Ottemiller State (OLI)
Mr. Norbeck State (IOD)
Lt. Col. Smith Army
Cdr. Cook Navy
Lt. Col. Garrett Air Force
Maj. Kimball Air Force
CIA (OCD)
3. The Chairman opened the meeting by stating that Army's method
of reporting, collating, and filing information would be explained to
serve as a basis for exploration of the feasibility of adopting a uniform
system for these operations by all IAC Agencies. He pointed out that
while these operations are highly important to the NIS Program, any
system for improving them is a means to an end, not an end in itself.
4. Lt. Col. Smith passed out sets of forms to the members and
explained Army's method of reporting, collating, and filing information
used in connection with the production of SID. Briefly, this system
embodies, among others, the following points:
a. Army field operatives type their complete reports on
one form and then attach to the complete report a summary
thereof on another form,
b. Upon receipt in ID, the summary form (which contains
appropriate data to enable ready identification of the complete
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report) is filed by IFI number in the analysts' files. The
complete report, after examination by the analyst, is filed in
a central library.
c. Information from sources other than Army field
operatives is summarized in ID on these summary forms; or, for
bulky reports, a notation of the contents thereof is placed
on the form. These summaries are then filed, according to
IFI number along with summaries from Army sources.
d. Copies of SID, or parts thereof, are sent to field
agents for review and correction. Along with these copies
are sent special forms of the same size as (but different
color than the summary forms mentioned above.
e. The field operative indicates changes on these special
forms and returns the forms to ID, where they are filed
according to IFI number with the other forms mentioned above.
f. When portions of the SID outline are discovered for
which there is no information available, the Army field
operatives are directed to make basic reports, which are on
the same forms as those mentioned in subparagraph a above,
5. At the conclusion of Lt. Col. Smith's explanation, the Chairman
pointed out that Army's system is adapted to the SID Program, which is
designed to meet the requirements of the Department of the Army, and may
not necessarily be wholly adaptable to the NIS Program, which is much
more comprehensive and reflects the requirements of all the IAC Agencies.
6. The State collection representative; said that intelligence
reporting is only one aspect of Foreign Service reporting and that he
was sure that Army's forms would be unacceptable to the Foreign Service.
Dr. Appleton expressed the view that, while the system of collation and
filing used by analysts is important, the prompt receipt of information
by analysts is more important. The State collection representative said
that State might be able to follow Army's practice of sending drafts to
the field for correction. It was pointed out, however, that the pressure
of the NIS production schedule would militate against such procedure.
7. The Navy collection representative stated that ONI is studying
Army and Air Force forms with a view to adopting certain features of them.
Navy, however, is reluctant to require field operatives to perform
additional work such as preparing the summary forms would involve.
#3. Lt. Col. Garrett said that Air Force's forms are practically
the saute as the Army's, except that Air Force does not use Army's Form
17-A.
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9. Lt. Cols, DeHority and Gould were of the opinion that the
analysts who actually prepare NIS material should work out with their
own collection agencies systems of reporting, collating, and filing at
such time as experience provides a basis therefor,
10. The following was the consensus:
a. The IAC Agencies are now actively examining the
question of collection for the NIS Program.
b. This far, experience has been insufficient to warrant
changes in existing systems.
c. Collecting agencies are now working together.
d. CIA is now looking at the overall collection picture.
e. It is more important to establish effective procedures
within Agencies than to achieve mere uniformity among Agencies.
f. NIS Committee members will take up the matters of
maintenance and collation with their analysts and collecting
agencies.
g. The subject of collection and file maintenance will
be taken up again by the NIS Committee when Agency views on
the matter have been formulated,
11. Army and Air Force concurred in the FY 1950 Production Schedule.
State is to obtain concurrence within OIR in moving up Chapters IV, V,
and VI of NIS ##68 from April to March. Navy is to obtain concurrence
within ONI on omitting Supplement No. I for NIS #67.
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