LETTER TO THE HONORABLE ALLEN DULLES FROM THOMAS L. HUGHES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 14, 2003
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: August 14, 1961
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/04/24 :CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH
WASHINGTON
TOP SECRET
BUG ~. y ~~~~.
Our Department is currently reexamining various aspects of US Far
Eastern policies. The intelligence community would make a substantial
contribution to this review if it were to undertake an estimate of Sino~
Soviet Bloc and Free World reactions to US initiation of the use of nuclear
weapons in response to an act of communist aggression in Asia. You will
recall that the Intelligence Board completed a similar estimate in 1958.
An up-to-date estimate reflecting changed circumstances would be most
useful if it were to be available within two months' time.
The estimate should examine the consequences of the use of nuclear
weapons in three situations: Korea, the Offshore Islands, and Laos. In
each case, it would be assumed that nuclear weapons were used by the
United States against an unequivocal, large-scale, conventional attack by
communist forces. Alternative assumptions concerning the geographic
scope of the United States nuclear strikes should be examined. The
estimate should consider the probable Chinese Communist and Soviet
reactions, including the likelihood of a communist nuclear counter-blow,
Japanese reactions including those relating to United States ability
further to use Japanese bases, and other world reactions.
I suggest that the estimate's terms of reference also reflect the
1960 interdepartmental contigency study "U. S. and Allied Capabilities
for Limited Military Operations to 1 July 1962. "
Could we take up this matter at our next meeting of the Intelligence
Board?
Sincerely,
Thomas
L. Hugh s
Acting
The Honorable,
Allen Dulles,
Chairman, United States Intelligence Board.
yC
~, _ [~
ILLEGIB
STATE review(s) completed. TOP SECRET
 ILLEGIB gpproved For Release 2003/04/24 :CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5
Approved For Release 2003/04/24 :CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5
 Approved For Release 2003/04/24 :CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5
T~slrributidr~~
t3ciB ? +~ l - Addressee
1 -Asst. to ~~
I - 1~ c~~
-~~
~ -
I - R; w~io
Approved For Release 2003/04/24 :CIA-RDP80B01676R000800100055-5