RELEASE OF MEMORANDUM TO HOLDERS OF NIE 11-8-68 TO THE BRITISH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 4, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
MEMORANDUM W f
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
ACTION
August 4, 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. KISSINGER
FROM: Helmut Sonnenfeldt I,;
SUBJECT: Release of Memorandum to Holders of
NIE 11-8-68 to the British
DOS, NSS, DOE
reviews completed.
The USIB is currently considering a State (INR) request to
release the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Soviet
strategic forces to the UK (Tab A). You will recall that this
was a very sensitive estimate and closely held in Washington.
While State cites some valid reasons for releasing it to the
British, there are also strong policy arguments against it.
The British, and particularly Wilson, have been critical of
our SALT position claiming it should be much more compre-
hensive and include a MIRV ban and complete ban on ABMs.
This estimate, when passed and sanitized, would normally
exclude footnotes of dissent (this is the standard practice);
if so, the British would obtain strong ammunition to argue
their case, since the text of the estimate would be the CIA
position, which expresses doubts whether the Soviets are
engaged in MIRV development.
You will also recall that Larry Lynn did a critique of this
estimate and found it wanting in several key areas.
All things considered, it would be best if this particular
estimate did not go to the British, especially since the next
version is due in September The bureaucratic legalities of
this procedure are that the estimate will be released if no
one raises policy objections. I think we should.
RECOMMENDATION:
That you inform USIB Secretariat (or Helms' office if you
prefer) that we do not want this estimate circulated to the UK.
Y7
L
1 0.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2 . L
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
4P W
Sly. CRET
ACTION
August 4, 1969
SU13JI-CT: Release of Memorandum to Holders of
NI.F. 11-8-68 to the British
The USIB in currently considering a state ,;INij.) request to
release the recent National Intelligence -,. stimaate on Soviet
strategic forces to the UK 'l'ab A). You will recall that this
was a very sensitive estimate and closely held in Washington.
While State cites some valid reasons for releasing it to the
'British, there are also strong policy arguments against it.
The British, and particularly Wilson, have been critical of
our SAIZ position claiming it should be much more compre-
hensive and include a MIRV ban and complete uan on .ABMs.
This estimate, when passed and sanitized, would normally
exclude footnotes of dissent ;this is the standard practice.;
if so, the British would obtain strong ammunition to argue
their case, since the text of the estimate would be the CIA
position, which expresses doubts whether the Soviets are
engaged in MIRV development.
`You will also recall that Larry Lyasia did a critique of this
estimate and found it wanting in several key areas.
All things, considered, it would be best if this particular
estimate did not go to the British, especially since the next
version is due in September. The bureaucratic legalities of
this procedure are that the estimate will be released if no
one raises policy objections. I think we should.
That you inform USIB Secretariat (or Helm a' office If you prefer,
that we do not want this estimate circulated to the UK.
W Hyland/hk
Copies: Sec - 2
WHfile -1
SECRET`HAK chron - 1
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
W Attachment
SECRET USIB-D-17.8/455
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLIGENCE ANO RESEARCH
WASHINGTON
JKs0 =.
Memorandum For:
Executive Secretary
United States Intelligence Board
Subject Release of Memorandum to Holders of
NIE 11-8-68
Reference . USIB-D-17.8/24)48, July 10, 1969
USIB-D-17.1/25 , March 25, 1968
Although the Department of State acknowledges the
validity of the considerations of sensitivity which led the
Board of National Estimates to recommend that release not be
made to the UK of the Memorandum to Holders of NIE 11-8-68,
we believe that there are advantages to dissemination which
would outweigh the drawbacks.
We recognize that NIE 11-8-69 will
probably be available for distribution to London by early
to mid-September. However, there will undoubtedly be a
SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2
V w
Attachment
USIB-D-17. 8/455
SECRET
-2-
number of high level US-UK contacts well before that
time, and, for this reason the Department urges favorable
USIB action to release to the UK the Memorandum to Holders.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2012/11/09: LOC-HAK-2-3-3-2