LETTER TO THE HONORABLE U. ALEXIS JOHNSON FROM RICHARD HELMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000400140025-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: July 20, 1966
• Content Type: LETTER

r% I-
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State Department review completed
0 July 1966
j IN
The Honorable U. Alexis Johnson:
Deputy Under Secretary for
Political Affairs
Department of State
Washington, D. C.
I am writing in reply to your letter of Z2 May 1966 which
enclosed a copy of your letter of the same date to Cy Vance and
your proposed draft telegram concerning travel restrictions on
Eastern European and Soviet officials in the United States. A s
suggested in your letter, Agency officers who are concerned with
this matter have been in touch with Walter Stoessel.
Our position now as in the past is that this matter is principally
of concern to departments and agencies charged specifically with
internal security responsibilities. I appreciate your courtesy, there-
fore, in referring it to us for review. As you know, there have been
varying points of view developed during the discussions. We have no
objection to your proposed line of action regarding Soviet exchange
visitors, commercial visitors, and tourists. On the other issues
there have been disagreements and it seems to me that with the appli-
cation of the principle of bilateral reciprocity individually to East
European countries we must expect that there will be a certain
advantage to Eastern Bloc reconnaissance and observational intelligence
activity in this country. Nevertheless, I am cognizant of the larger
implications inherent in this problem and in view of these implications
I am in agreement with the course of action outlined in your proposed
draft cable.
Signature Recommended: Sincerely,
Deputy Director for Plans
SECRET
.f 1,- .?.ns
Richard Helms
Director
cc: D? P p ftt eadW29 : CIA4:tDP8DB@t16r7GR0 4&1400]25-8DD/P
1(20 July 1966) vk< ER 1 - C/CI 1 - C/SB
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norable U. Alexis Johnson
nder Secretary for
Affairs
Politick
.
Department
Washington, Th C .
sting in repi to your lettee of ZZ May 1966 which enclosed
a copy of your letter of the ante dat to Cy Vance concerning travel
. As suggested in your Agency officers who are con-
rictus on Eastern Euro, an Soviet officials in the United
corned with this matter have be. n touch with Walter Stoessel.
As in the past, our positio on thits,,tratter is that it is principally
of concern to departments are -son rtes 1 rged with internal security
responsibilities. responsibilities. Neeverthelee s, we weelco the opportunity to com-
ment on those aspects relit g to intelligeenc collection.
As you know, throug
of U. S. and allied pers
stricted--and through s
veel?-ths Soviet U
effectively managed t
and information
areas is likely to c
USSR. Thus we
to increase our
cially re -
rmitteed
Europe have
U. S. and allied personnel ac
elligence interest. Presumably this x
as to areas
asur* of
and reciprocal understandings regarding
used
nus for the indefinite future, especially iaei\hs
Id not expect the proposed change in U. S. po
-all intelligence collection c~.apabilityr.
on the othep hand. we believe that liberalization of travel con-
So and Last European nationals in the United States would
increase they vailability of information of intelligence Value to the
Soviet U io This would occur both directly and indirectly insofar
as representatives of :fast European intelligence services act as
equent ad hoe restri
one on the travel
el to areas which are no
rveillance and harassment
and c e rtain countries of Laster
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The Honorable U. Alexis Johnson
rage 2
extensions of the Soviet intelligence services. Specific information
along the latter lines was given to us a few years ago by the former
25X1
ddition to the capability of direct collection by Soviet person-
permanently stationed in the United States and the above -mentioned
collection, the general Soviet practice of including intelligence
and agents in commercial-} tourist, and exchange delegations
provides the USSR with intelligence collection opportunities in circumvention of a closed area systorr-r unless sufficient safeguards are pro-
vided.
I appreciate your courtesy in referring this ca otter to us for r
pew and I recognize that it is basically one of policy for other agencies
Govern. ent to determine. Nevertheless, I believe that the above
points deserve consideration. I a therefore forwarding a copy of this
latter to Cy Vane.
; i.n* eereely,
Pic-hard 14*iwr.x
Director
Deputy Sec rotary of Defense
DEMurphy:jif (29 June 66)
Rewritten: O-ExDir:I1,jrf (6 July 66)
Distribution: uu
0 & 1 - Adse
cc. Vance
-ER
1 - DD/P
1 - C/CI
1 - C/SB
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 5-8
IPEarG,
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON 25. D. C.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
The Hon rable U. Alexis Johnson
Deputy 'Under Secretary of State
for P+o?itical Affairs
in ton,`-. ?. C.
rtment\ of State
p as
pr
agencies charged
reply to your letter of 'Pay 22,
a copy of your letter of the same
ary Vance concerning travel re-
Buropean and Soviet officials in
our position on this ratter is
pally of concern to departments
-A k- I
,nevertheless,
Pment on aspects of t
welcome the Opportunity to
problem relating to intelli-
hs you know, through equent ad Hoc restrictions
genre collection.
not officially rest cted -- and through sur-
VIA ~.,
voi Hance and harassment of pe ittod travel -.- the
Soviet Union and certain coun:tri s of Pastern Europe have
festively managed to deny U. S. and ailied persr nuiei.
esumably this measure of denial a. ove and beyond re,-
to continue for the indefinite future especially in the
- - b -L. - r ca
S. policy to increase our overall i c elligefce col-
l.ectio capability.
other hand we believe that beralization
ed States would increase the ava ...at'il1ty OT
of intelligencevalue to the 5ovi'i,t pinion
eaa.v 1100 k max.
oth directly and indirectly in so far as representatives
avel control-, for Soviet and k:ast Iu.r can nationals
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WUL
nce -services. `'atleci f t , is for-? ?
;:: s vas iVci to us a fog e rs
n i l l 1 f 2 wNlce service 1; act ids extenslor
ac~(Ution) \\o tae cars"', 'ility of t irt:--ct c.o3lccticm
? ersvnaa a air ?a-'eattly stati_uIled are the jamite
?'.s Hi,16 t A.?t Y". v if ton E illtUrect collection, t
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s Q`a ?l t r'Sts ie, otnrrercitie ta