DCI BRIEFING OF COMBINED CIA SUBCOMMITTEES OF SENATE ARMED SERVICES AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS - 11 JANUARY 1966

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82R00025R000600110001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2003
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: January 12, 1966
• Content Type: MFR

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12 January 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: DCI Briefing of Combined CIA Subcommittees of Senate
Armed Services and Senate Appropriations - 11 January 1966
1. The Director, accompanied by John S. Warner, briefed the
combined CIA Subcommittees of Senate Armed Services and Senate
Appropriations for approximately three hours beginning at 2:30 p. m.
Present from the Subcommittees were:
Senator Richard B. Russell
Senator Carl Hayden
Senator John Stennis
Senator Leverett Saltonstall
Senator Stuart Symington
Senator Milton R. Young
William Darden, Professional Staff Member
There was a sweep of the room prior to the hearing and monitoring
during the hearing. No transcript was taken.
2. The Director announced. the appointment of Dr. R. Jack Smith
as Deputy Director for Intelligence and the transfer, at his request, of
the present incumbent, Mr. Ray Cline, to Germany.
3. Prior to the Director starting his briefing, Senator Symington
stated he would like to make a very brief report to the Subcommittee on
his discussions with Agency people in the field. From memory the
Senator mentioned by name the people he had seen and where as follows:
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The Senator then stated that these were truly outstanding people who
obviously knew their areas and their jobs. The Senator further stated
that he inquired of the military commanders and Ambassadors about
the work of the Agency. He stated uniformly he heard the Agency was
doing a very competent job and were fully coordinated with other U. S.
programs. He stated here apparently had been some problem
between the Ambassador and Chief of Station but the Ambassador assured
him this had been straightened out., Senator Young joined in this general
view stating he had made a similar trip about a year ago. Symington and
Young then agreed that it is relatively easy to pick out the CIA man on the
scene by simply looking for the most intelligent, knowledgeable, and
personable man in the group. Symington requested the Chairman's
permission to make a general statement on this subject on the floor of
the Senate and the Chairman indicated no objection.
4. In response to a question as to our responsiveness to
Ambassadors, the Director indicated our covert action programs were
fully coordinated with the Ambassadors as well as receiving policy
approval in Washington from outside the Agency.
5. The Director then briefed on the OXCART program following
generally the attached briefing paper.
6. The Director then turned to South Vietnam and briefed in
accordance with briefing notes. The question was asked about the
Montangards and the Director indicated that while originally the Agency
had responsibility for training and arming these people, this was now
the responsibility of the military. He indicated that while this group was
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well disposed to the Americans, there had been difficulties with the
Vietnamese government. The Director stated his belief that with
careful handling by the South Vietnamese government these groups
could be a valuable asset.
7. Senator Russell referred to the two most recent large-scale
search operations by the American military where they were not able
to locate significant groups of Viet Cong. His question was why the
Agency, with the enormous amounts of money available to it, could
not do a better job of infiltrating the Viet Cong in order to gain this
kind of information. Senator Russell added that the Agency has not
done as well in this as he would have expected. The Director reviewed
the 0 program pointing out this had been extremely successful
where they were located, adding that this effort would be tripled in
the coming year. He also pointed out the problem is compounded by
significant Viet Cong penetration of the South Vietnamese government
and military. The Director further pointed out that this is a difficult
task since penetration of the Viet Cong at a high level or intercept of
COMINT of basic plans do not necessarily furnish the information
needed at the tactical level since the isolated Viet Cong units act
within the framework of broader plans and their precise movements
are not necessarily known to higher headquarters. The Director stated
this was a most difficult situation but was being worked at very hard
by all concerned and that there was no simple answer.
8. The question was raised as to shipment of oil illegally through
North Vietnam to be made available to South Vietnam. It was indicated
there was no information on this. The question was asked as to bribery
to permit oil trucks to move in South Vietnam. It was indicated that
both of these items would be checked and information furnished, if
available.
9. Senator Symington asked if we had a map which would show
the antiaircraft dispositions. It was indicated this would be furnished
to him.
10. It was indicated that we have an unconfirmed report that
there are ChiCom advisors to the North Vietnamese forces in South
Vietnam. Senator Russell added that he did not think they were really
necessary since the North Vietnamese were doing all right on their own.
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11. A number of questions were then raised concerning what
actions would bring the ChiCom forces into North Vietnam. The
Director stated it was the considered view that any action which
would threaten the existence of the North Vietnamese government
would likely bring such ChiCom reaction. Senator Symington asked.
the specific question whether a small landing at Vinh would cause
this reaction and the Director stated he believed it would.
12. In connection with Haiphong, the Director pointed, out
that it was not believed that taking out the two large oil reserves at
Haiphong would trigger such reaction. In addition, he pointed out
there were other ways of dealing with Haiphong such as blockade or
:mining. In response to a suggestion by Senator Russell, the Director
agreed that the dredging operations in Haiphong, if interfered with,
could probably accomplish the same results. The Director also
noted that he was not including in his discussion of ChiCom reaction
the question of taking out the various air fields in North Vietnam.
Senator Symington stated he had heard the suggestion that as we
phased out our B-47s they should be turned over to the ChiNats who
could then use iron bombs on Communist China. The Director stated
that this would certainly cause the Communist Chinese to react.
13. The Senators appeared to be building a case that any
significant loosening of the reins on the military was blocked by the
policy consideration that this would bring in the ChiComs but they
did not pursue this thought further.,
14. The Director then briefed in accordance with the briefing
notes on the situation in North Vietnam including Shelepin' s visit.
15. The Director gave the highlights of the briefing notes on the
Dominican Republic, Indonesia, the Congo, Rhodesia, and India. In
connection with the Dominican Republic, the Director was queried what
would happen if the OAS forces were pulled out. He indicated there
would undoubtedly be a blood bath followed by a military dictatorship.
In connection with the Congo, Senator Russell asked about the releases
from the reserve about which we had notified the Committee in writing.
Senator
Stennis commented that this seemed to be a good investment since he
recalled that about two years ago many people were beginning to write
the Congo off.
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16. Senator Symington asked when the ChiComs would attain
their first missile capability and then expanded the question to include
MRBMs and ICBMs. The Director stated that the ChiComs were
currently working on a 1500 nautical mile cruise missile which would
probably be available in 1968. He gave a figure of about 1970 for an
MRBM and about 1975 for an ICBM. He stated, however, he would
like to review this and furnish the Committee additional information.
17. In response to questions, the Director touched on very
briefly the situation in the Philippines, Chile, Colombia, Bolivia,
Venezuela, Uruguay, and Guatemala.
18. Senator Stennis and others commented that the Director
had painted a rather gloomy picture. The Director stated he was
reporting the facts as the Agency had developed them. Senator
Symington stated that this had been one of the most informative and
interesting afternoons that he had ever spent. The other members
were very complimentary on the content and interest of the briefing.
Copy 1 - OGC/LC w/atts
Copies 2 & 3 - DCI w/atts
Copy 4 - Dir - w/atts
Copy 5 w/o atts
pp. 1 & 3 - DDP
OGC /LC:JSW:mks
JOHN S. WARNER
Legislative Counsel
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