TEXT OF ADMIRAL TURNER'S LETTER ON C.I.A. DRUG TESTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100100035-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 35
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

> : Approved For Release 2007/06/28: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100100035-5
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ON PA GE 4, THE NEW YORK TIMES
16 July 1977
Text of Admiral 'urner's Letter on C.I.A. Dru Tests
SDeMai to The New York Times
WASHINGTON, July 15 Following
is the text of Admiral Turner's letter,'
on C.I.A. drug experiments, as released
by the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence.
During the course of 1975 when the
? Senate Committee, chaired by Senator
Church, was investigating intelligence
activities, the C.I.A. was asked to pro-
duce documentation on a program- of
.experimentation with the. effect. of
drugs. Under this project'. conducted
from 1953 to 1964 and. known as "MK-
ULTRA,"- tests 'were conducted on
'American citizens in some cases with-
out their knowledge.
The C.LA., after searching for- such
documentation, reported that most of
the documents on this matter, have
been destroyed: I find it my duty to
report to you now that our continuing
search for. drug-related, as well as
other docrmren'ts, has uncovered cer-
tain papers which bear'on this matter.
Let me hasten to' add that I am per-
suaded that there was no previous at-
tempt to conceal this material in.the
original 1975 exploration. The material cer patients, and tests on such patients
recently discovered was in the retired were carried out.
archives filed under financial accounts
and only uncovered by using extraordi- E. There is a possibility of an improg
nary and extensive search efforts. In er payment to a private institution.
this connection, incidentally, I have The drug related activities described
personally commended the, employee, in this newly located material -began
whose diligence produced this-find. almost 25 years ago. I assure you they
Because the new material now on were discontinued over 10 years ago
hand is primarily of a financial nature,'. ' and do not take place today.
it does not present a complete picture In keeping with the President's com-
of the field of drug experimentation mitment to disclose any errors of:.the
activity but it does provide more detail 'intelligence community which-- ace
than was previously available to us. uncovered, I would like to - volunteer
For example, the following types of to testify ? before your Committee. on
activities were undertaken: the full details of this unfortunate
A. Possible aaditional, cases of drugs series of events. I am in the process
being tested. on American citizens, . of. reading the fairly voluminous mate-
with-.,+ .. I
i
STAT
rr ow
m
edge. real uivolved and do want to be certain
B. Research was undertaken on sur- . that I have a complete picture when
reptitious methods of administering I talk with the" Committee. I will be
drugs. _ in touch with you next week to discuss
C. Some of the persons chosen for when hearings might be scheduled-=at
experimentaton were drug addicts or - the earlies topportunity. ^~ ^t
alcoholics. - I regret having. to bring this issue }
D. Research into.the development of to your attention, but I know that it a knockout or "K" drug was performed is essential to your oversight proce-'
in conjunction with being done to dures that you be kept fully informed
develop pain killers for advanced can- in a timely manner-.
Approved For Release 2007/06/28: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100100035-5