WATCH OFFICE PROCEDURES AND THE PROMPT REPORTING OF INFORMATION TO HIGHER AUTHORITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2003
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: March 4, 1963
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Relea,,2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R0000120019-0
4 March 1963
NS - REVIEW
COMPLETED,
O6/g6/2003
CRANIUM FOR: The Executive Committee
SUBJECT
Watch Office Procedures and the
Prompt Reporting of Information
to Higher Authority
OSD'REVIEW COMPLETED
9/16/2002
1. The recent episode involving the Voneuuelaa- ship
Anzoategui revealed certain weaknesses in Washington in Watch Office
procodWres and in prompt reporting of information to higher authority.
While the CIA was not directly involved in this particular episode, the
actions taken are of direct interest.
2. Attached for your information and guidance is a memorandum
for the President dated 20 February and one from the President to the
Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and DCI. as well as a letter
from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. commenting on their procedures.
Will all members of the Executive Committee please insure that the
appropriate personnel are advised of this material and that all of our
procedures are correct and expeditious.
(signed) Lyman r. - irlkpatrck
Lyman B. Kirkpatrick
Executive Director
Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0
 Approved Forease 2003/09/02: CIA-RDP80B0167001001
CONFIDENTIAL
hl)'-' IORANDUV1 FOR THE PRt;SI1)ENT
heoruai y
1963
Subject,: Analysis of Reports on Elie Venezu4:la n Ship Incident
Wt a Registry
The Department of State anti tie ,I) partri nt o' Defense furnished a
chrueoloii;y of events in the liancilin; of the V~~nczu~Ian ship incident on
t3ased on Ow se s;aterncents, the ioll~,Nv=n, sel-ni to be a fair
or i.:isal of what occurred. Stt p'> b:.' Lt cc-,10 6- fai","-n to
l'Ju. handling of any sirni~.tY' in ld! nts in the future are 11.T 'i' t;ed by these
1' uur1S,,
1) The watch officers ciakring the ni ht took what would normally be
cos: iciered apDropr:iat(+ action. In the State I)-epartr-nent, thu Operations
,(.'.rift's telephoned the (vTE'Y"ie iii fan Cc %kC f: err, ,^:, Mc;>l:i?.', s` z,. and
L:o< niunicated with Navy Plag 'ic,t, who laid aire,_ciy been interested
Necitw;c' of the press reports. 'I l,-t.: Open atiL.i: :; ` ent r also ciL ('cke(l with
te:ic_, CIA duty officer.
lri this in~>to n1con there aoJ_,ars to be a lack a-. ap
.:lp~?,ociat it>n of the
-:ol.itical implications involved; it probably would ly_ave been appropriate
to move this further up the lin(-- in the, St-Ito E)(-T,- trtrne'nt. Ad(':itionaily,
Navy d(?ty officer should not have been in:lu.,nccd so he oily by the
at U('1.3Irtt jent stt Yi'?tion vI 'www:~it until the Venne-zue_tans ''^Sk 'Lis for
(if) About 5:45 a.rn, , the Navy Flag Plot reported to the State I)t z rt...
n-lent Operations Center that the Navy had t 1)!' tix on the missiSS'r Ve tsel.
(ii At 6:15 a. n-i. the CNO J lilt}' cai>tai..i m1ormt0 Acrnir ii 'ic.ketts of
.
I"' x on the missing, ship _
, w,,~lits directed that it be. passed b"'- telenhor.~
Naval Attache in Caracas.
l,.ctrl".il' it Ricketts were br ieii.'i on Ih1:.' ,*Y''.=1 t'.,
t'il(lt'r Sc cer-1ry Fay and
At 2.botc 9:30 s? Tn. , Vice
L"ie1_klonc(I i . t o o l 1 17 i , i.t: ., _ . " t ' i i f l . toa?Ct; ... .... " , { ratter of
Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0
CC)i' FaI)TT;N'TIAf
 Approved Fo
CONFIDENTIAL
ease 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B016700100120019-0
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