REQUEST FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING AGENCY ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R006100120001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 30, 1974
• Content Type: MF

STAT Approved For Release 2003/04/29 : CIA-RDP84-0078OR006100120001-3
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DDA 74-5036
30 DLC1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT . Requests for Information Concerning Agency Activities
1. Reference is made to the morning meeting request of 2 December
1974 that I look into the possibility of developing a bibliography of
unclassified articles on Agency activities, which might be released to
private citizens requesting information concerning Agency activities. STAT
It is understood that the proposal was advanced by Mr.
a member of your Management Advisory Group.
2. I arranged for an officer to talk to Mr. who STAT
expressed the view that substantive press articles concerning CIA should
be indexed and the bibliographic data should be retained in a computer
system. When a letter requesting information is received by your Office,
the requester could be provided with a listing of recent useful articles,
whether they are favorable or unfavorable to the organization.
3. Our research on this question brought forth the following points:
a. Central Reference Service, DDI does not have an appropriate
computer system to handle this requirement, and it is not feasible
to piggyback it on the proposed SAFE computer program.
b. CRS is shorthanded, with professionals working 100-150 hours
of uncompensated overtime a week to keep up with existing require-
ments for clipped articles.
c. The clipping service sponsored by Mr. Angus Thuermer has
restricted capabilities because of a very small staff; it is designed
to perform a limited function in keeping senior Agency officials
generally informed; and additional personnel would be required if
there is going to be a requirement to focus on articles concerning
the Agency.
d. The Office of Training has a responsibility in the "briefing"
area, but they do not have the manpower to review articles about the
Agency.
e. It is understood that there is an average of about one out-
side request per week, and most of these are from students at the
secondary school level.
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4. As with the suggestion that we have an up-to-date unclassified
STAT film about the Agency, the proposal falls into the "nice to
have" category. I submit a :
a. The volume certainly does not justify computerization. b. This is not a priority issue, particularly at this time of
scarce financial and personnel resources.
c. Serious students could certainly research the topic and
come up with books and articles which present all points of view.
Any reference material from the Agency could be construed as
"biased."
d. We could be accused of conducting a "public relations" or 7
"public information" program, and it was your public position at
the Los Angeles World Affairs Council in May 1974 that we are not
in that business.
5. In effect, I recommend that we punt on this proposal. If you
still think the matter should be pursued in modified form, then I would
suggest that Angus Thuermer check the possibility of increasing the size
of his staff to cover this new requirement.
STAT
John F. Blake
Deputy Director
for
Administration
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 A j
F, 0012 0
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UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
I
MR. McMAHON
2
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3
4
5
6
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks :
STAT
Attached prepay for DDA si ture
by ? I C/.STAT
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FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FRO NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
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30 DEC 1974
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is a sv'raie' of ? u' e't out-'
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for ki do
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at
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suggest that Paps Thwn*r chi the ssivil.ity or -;icressizi,
or q,
Us staff to c r this re uir Brat.
J1
meter zat n.
..caariy, at t is t of
:Snip amts could c ai y research the topic z. $
I.t ; bc and. articles i.d' present all points or V. .
,rial from Cc, Avwmy cMdd- be crtrMqi as
x t T r c -~ r t on this ,yop s .. if you
i
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still thf ' t: Better s'hmli, be pursue ; difi for then i would
p) Ada yy 7 7'
Q
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STAT
EO-DDA :Ydc (24 Dee 74)
Distribution:
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1
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I - DDASubject
1 -
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STAT
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Ms. Barbara Newton
22 October 1974
Dear IIs. Newton,
Thank you for your letter of September 30
addressed. to Msr. Colby.
,I r. Colby has asked ne to send you a copy of
his speech made before the Fund for Peace conference
on September I`% The conference' topic was "CIA and
Covert Activities". At.the end of his statement, Mr.
Colby spoke about the subject of Chile. I think: you
will find this helpful in your research.
Sincerely,
IE!
Angus MacLean jhue l me
Assistant to the Director
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STAT
Director,
0entri_1 intelligence 4Jency
:`iasiiingt'on, D.C.
Lear ai_r :
As a result of a politica-i_ science course entitled "Chilean
??evolution" in wnich ! am currently enrollea at Emory end
Henry College, I am writing n research paper on "co.vcrt CIA
P..ctiviui-s in Chili".
After reacting various newspaper articles, weekly nn?.sletter,s
c a k i iri Amer c,a,. several booKs on ins A! i.ende years
(amon 'Trii ch are in Crlili by Les 'Evans ano Tne uhilea;].
Eoaa to "ocinlis,,i by Dale L. Johnson) , and several . hooks aboat
triecentral intce-Llig nce Agency (,uch as Invisible l7ov?tn--
P.OsS end l ''^e -e, _r--t `ea"!
r a-i ri j 1 i OTI _
. is - e Prc,.iy) i t oc o1'rred to me th']a t IA[,Tas perha.).S
t" _L..i e d story .
c {. 1. C 1
Or.I.i'L'a? _ Cam;
'ii I ^ee ., ~.11 r ._ eat e~?' ;pen; ive. icy'? to . e ?il tt:
;^t r_ 1)t1' .;~ )1-
ibe .. 1 :7. that is as .Ce is and -.
,49A,&" Ae,&)fO%-
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