LETTER TO THE HONORABLE JOHN C. STENNIS, CHAIRMAN FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070046-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2006
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: September 24, 1974
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-RDP79-00957AO00100070046-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
Honorable John C. Stennis, Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
OL:C 74-2068
2 4 SEP 1974
Per our conversation, please let me reiterate in writing my
conception of my responsibilities to you as the Chairman of the Armed
Services Committee charged with oversight of the Central Intelligence
Agency.
As you know, CIA testifies before a number of committees of
the Senate, both in open session and in executive session as appropriate,
in.order to make available to them CIA's information and assessments
about foreign situations and in order to respond to questions when such
testimony will not disclose intelligence ;sources and methods. By what
I believe is the long-standing precedent of the Senate and this Agency,
however, such testimony does not cover the CIA's operational activities,
budget matters or intelligence sources and methods.
With respect to you and to the Subcommittee on Intelligence (and,
the equivalent in the Appropriations Committee), I have taken the public
position many times that CIA has no secrets. Thus, I believe that I
must be responsive to whatever question you ask in whatever detail you
desire it. Beyond that, however, I believe it my responsibility to assume
the positive obligation to raise with you any matters of possible interest
to you or to the Congress. I have tried to apply this principle from the
time of my confirmation hearings and assure you of my commitment to
it in the future.
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 Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070046-3
As noted above, these arrangements follow my understanding of
the long-standing precedent and will of the Senate in this regard: Proposals
have been made at various times to change this arrangement. With respect
to such possible changes, I have no position, as I believe these are purely
matters for the determination of the Senate itself. In the absence of such
change, however, I will follow the above procedures.
Since rely,
'INNIB
W. E. Colby
Director
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1- DCI
1 - DDCI
1-ER
1 - OLC
Approved For Release 2007/02/24: CIA-RDP79-00957A000100070046-3