MINUTES OF THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA STAFF MEETING, 24 JANUARY 1955.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01096A000200050028-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 1998
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: January 24, 1955
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Release 1999/09/21 : CIA-RDP79-01096AO00200050028-9
MINUTES Cr GEOGRAPHIC AREA STAFF MEETING, 24 JANUARY 1955.
25X1A9a
1. read to the group the Geographic Area production
statistics for the calendar year 1954 from the St/PC Statistical Summary
of CPR production. Comparisons were made of production in various
categories of the Geographic Area and the Economic Area. It was agreed
that the MR.production of five issues in 12 months was too low, and
25X1A9a plans to increase the MR effort as much as possible.
25X1A9a 2. commented on the recent memorandum sent 25X1A9a
to ATIC, accompany ng a prepublication copy of report ER-11. 25X1A9a
commiented that such correspondence requires the signature of e r
Division Chief, Area Chief, or the AD/RR.
25X1A9a 3. read aloud a draft of a staff study on the Urban Area
Research Program. DD/P, during the last year, has presented requirements
for detailed maps and text studies of a large number of urban centers within
the Soviet Orb. Possibilities of contracting with the Air Force or Army
for the production of studies has been explored during the past year.
Current DD/P requirements are for a total of 300 studies at a rate of
50 studies per year. The Air Force has estimated that it could produce
50 studies per year for $485,000 per year, while the Army has estimated
$500,000 per year. The group discussed problems of meeting these DD/P
requirements either through contract or by establishing an Urban Area
facility within the Geographic Area. It was agreed that the studies could
be produced more cheOs b the Geographic Area than under contract to the
Air Force or Army. p wonted an estimate of $402,000 per 25X1A9a
year for a separate on voted to Urban Area Research with a
T/O of 58 persons, including $25,000 per year for cost of supplies and
equipment. It was agreed that a CIA facility would be more adaptable to
the needs of DD/P than a contract facility. It is anticipated that a
production copy satisfactory to DD/P could only be developed over a long
period and that this process of development would be made more difficult
if an external contractor were involved. The desirability of proceeding
at a medium pace during the shakedown period was agreed to by the group.
It was decided that the best approach would be to first set up a small unit
in Cartography and possibly a separate unit in Geography to concentrate on
Urban Area research. This would be followed by recruiting and processing
of new personnel to the gradually increased production of Urban Area studies
as organizational needs and final criteria for the studies were developed.
(7 V
Iwo A'~S! F:
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Approved For Release 1999/09/21 : CIA-RDP79-01096A000200050028-9
 Approved For Release 1999/09/21 : CIA-RDP79-01096AOO0200050028-9
that the Ms Library has had too many surveys
k
.
t week with 25X1A9a
felt that such outside surveys should be deterred puss .
25X1A9a
25X1A9a 5. - reported that Colonel Pettit of JCS will be in charge
tion to the UN Cartographic Conference at Dehra Dun, India.
25X1C4a
25X1A9a 25X1A9a
conferred last week with of NEA concerning
?5X1A9a schedule, and it appears that no ma or c es will be necessary.
25X1A9a 8. reported on his further bax Despatch 25X1A9a
requesting of Northern La d met with Ar~r,and 25X1A9a
Air representatives last week and d scussed the situation with
plans to send an CM to the 25X1A9a
the State Department Desk Officer_"iso
Embassy in Laos saying that the matter is now under consideration.
25X1A9a 10.
25X1A9aof M
I commented that D/GL, Charge Desk, has not been notified
departure, as it should have been.
25X1A9a 11. commented that he received a request from TSS
for construction of a City Plan. The request apparently was transmitted
out of normal channels.
25X1A9a
advised that the Inter Agency Group on Ground
12.
Intelligence Photograp will have another meeting this Thursday,
MMW
January 27, in "N" Building.
W f yy. 17J
Approved For Release 1999/09/21 : GIA-RDP79-01 96AOOD200050028-9