PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE GEOGRAPHY DIVISION FOR August 1957

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP60-00346R000200100006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2001
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 1, 1957
• Content Type: PERRPT

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PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE GEOGRAPHY DIVISION FOR
August 1957.
I. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
22LpnletedligEh
Production of the Geography Division during August was as follows:
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CIA/AR-GR-110
CIA/RR-M-111
CIA/RR-GR-113
CIA/RR-GR-114
CIA/AR-GR-115
0IA/AA-0R-147.1
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Requester
TSS/APD and
NED/OSI
CIA/RR.4A-160 Transborder Routes from the
Indian Subcontinent to
Sinkiang and Tibet
CIA/RR-GM-4 Oil and Partition in Algeria Self-initiated
NIS 41AM North Korea NIS Program
Chapter IX
NIS 39B Nationalist China NIS Program
Section 19, Chapter I
0/I-226 Additional Indications of FE
Soviet Post-IGY Intentions urn
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0/1-227 SA/CPP
G/E-70 Geographical Highlights of the GE/State
Gulf of Po Hai, China
0/8-22 Railroad Construction in Com- S/CST
munist China (Support
for ORR Project 47.1581)
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Production for Augast was exceptionally good. Five reports on uncon-
ventional warfare areas were completed, two of which were on the old format
and three were in accordance with the instructions of 2 April 1957 from the
informal working group composed of representatives of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, and DDP/PPC that we produce coordinated feasibility studies on
selected areas of the world. These three studies, all on Europe, CIA/RR-GR-113,
114, and 115, were accompanied by a list of considerations covering factors
applying to the selection of all types of UW areas, factors applying specif-
ically to the selection of areas suitable for multipurpose UW operations,
and factors applying specifically to the selection of areas suitable primarily
for survival or escape and evasion. It was also pointed out that these studies
do not purport to provide the detailed current intelligeace essential to
successful UW operations but represent a first step only. The required number
of copies of the reports, accompanying maps, and the list of considerations
were forwarded to DDP/PPC, Army, Navy, and Air Force through channels.
Additional information, temperature data, on the Semipalatinsk Region WS
requested by Acting Chief, TSS/APD, and was furnished as an addendum to our
CIA/RR-GB-147.
The report, Transborder Routes from the Indian Subcontinent to Sinkiang
Tibet, CIA/ER-GE-IO, requested. by provided basic information
on passes, routes, trade, and border controls, together with brief terrain 25X1A
descriptions of the frontiers of Sinkiang and Tibet with those of adjoining
nations of the Indian Subcontinent.
The fourth issue in the CIA/RR-GM series was on the timely subject of
Oil and PaElt1ILRE_Iallgeria.- The discovery of oil in the Sahara has further
complicated the Algerian problem for the French, and this memorandum is the
geographic attempt to shed additional light on the problem.
NIS 410, Chapter IX, North Korea, and NIS 398, Section 19 of Chapter I,
met their August deadlines.
Geographical Highlights of the Gulf of Po Hai, China, 0-700 is the
first of five short studies to be prepared for designated areas Where a
territorial water problem exists. These are part of a joint effort of OLI/GE?
State, our requester, and the Hydrographic Office.
B. Progress of Work Under 14.ax
USSR Branch: Production progress for the month was relatively good.
Code: M=1=1M CIA/RR-GR-111, and CIA/RR-GR-147.1 on temperature
data in the Semipalatinsk Region were issued in final form. Novaya Zemlya
was completed for final publication and sent to Ch/G for review. The evasion
geography on is in the final stage of editing. Major writing
efforts were concentrated on regional agro-climatic aspects of corn cultivation
in the USSR for MAG/RR and on the following articles for MR-53 which are
nearing completion: Change in Soviet Time Zones, Volcanic Eruption on
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Kamchatka, and Evaluation of Recent Soviet Chart of Franz Josef Island
are ready for publication; Hew Economic-Administrative Areas in the Soviet
Union is in final review and coordination. Over 90 percent of the substantive
data have been plotted for the project on current status of USSR railroads and
Cartography has the base map ready. Work was resumed on the urban study of
Noril'sk following return of the Analyst from training at McGill University,
and work was initiated on two UW feasibility areas and two special requests
for information from D/GP. The fall training period has begun, with three
members of the Branch enrolled in the Photo Interpretation Course (Geographic
Phase) and two members enrolled in the off-duty German languege training
course.
Far East Branch: the Transborder Routes
from the Indian Subcontinent..., GR-160, and G E-70 for the Department of
State were completed and delivered during the month. Additional follow-up
work, involving personal conferences with DD/P personnel, was completed for
the phase of Good progress was made on two UW feasibility
projects. Draft of the study on regional analysis of 25X113
PN 61.1380, is complete except for writing a note on Gaps in Intelligence,
inclusion of a few recently received photos, and the zap vork. Research on
land-use in Sinkiang -- an important aspect of the major Sinkiang PN 61.1212 --
continued. An article on Vietnamese-Cambodian Tensions in the Gulf of Siam,
originally prepared for consideration. as a GM, is now planned for inclusion
in MR-53. Finishing touches were given our assistance to
S/CST, on the project Railroad Construction in China, ORR Project 47.1581,
including review of their finished draft of the survey of proposed railway
projects. This is reported complete as our G/S-22.
Europe Branch: Three US feasibility projects, CIA/RR-GR-113, 114,
and 1150 were completed and delivered to the requesters during August. The
following MR articles received attention during the month: Administrative
Changes in East Germany was rewritten to incorporate data received as a result
of special requirements sent to the GA; the first drafts of articles on the
Postwar Developments of Western Territories of Poland arid. Developments in
the Italian Oil and Gas Induetry are nearIng completion. Four evasion
25X113
geographies are in process or completion: is in typing and will go
to Reproduction early In September; is under review in Editing; work
on was stopped pending receiptor air photography of selected
areas; rough draft of the terrain section on is complete, but 25X113
further work will be delayed by higher priority studies in the Branch.
Considerable help was supplied b to the Working Group on Antarctica,
OM Preliminary work and ordering of needed materials was begun for the
the fourth UW feasibility study. returned
from TD Y in Europe.
lis.E.IEY2.1tEla Branch: CIA/RR-GM-4 was initiated and issued
during the month, involving coordination with WI, MVP, and the Department
of State. Status of the two evasion geographies in progress in the Brenda is
25X113 that was forwarded. to Editing and writing on progressed 25X113
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on the initial draft in the latter part of the month; considerable thought
was given to the problea of maps to accompany the study on The
overlapping of interest between CBS and the Branch has been very marked
25X1A9a dur the month, as is the overlong retention of documents In that Office.
entered on duty in the Branch.
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Soviet Mapping _Intelligence Staff/Western Hemi re Branch: Effort 25X1C
during the month was devoted to the Antarctic preparation for the
and to the development or opportunities for intelligence within the activities
of the IGY. G/I-226 ane 227 on Antarctica were issued. The first draft of
the study requested by Navy on the accuracy of targetositioning inside the
USSR was reviewed with and substantive modi-
fication discussed.
reports that the month was. devoted to the completion and
review of the edited draft of the report Petroleum in Latin America,
CIA/RR-G-17, and to completion of the CIA contribution to the Argentina NIS
Chapter IX. The report on Status of Latin American Boundaries is being
reviewed by the Division Chief and will go to Editing early next month.
F4,.ti_r_z_iand Review Staff: An unusually large number of reports and
memorandums were issued in final form during August. In addition, one
G-Report was sent to Reproduction, another is in the Office of Ch/G for
f
111.111
' -6: prior to being sent to Reproduction, and the E,...L..0.oi_l_tel_s?Ei2liaea
a long report, is in typing. GG/R also edited a note prepared by
accompany the map of Moscow (12765); several memorandums for D/GG
staff members and a Corrigenda for G-15, bringing that report up to date,
were reviewed. A number of other miscellaneous but unscheduled jobs were
done for the Division.
Coordination Staff: The month was devoted to completion of
Chapter IX, NIS 41A , North Korea, and Section 19 of Chapter I, NIS 39B,
Nationalist China.
II. RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA
Messrs.
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attended the 13 August meeting with other
Gaol personnel, AD/RR, and Messrs and
to discuss the relations between the Geographic Research
Special Advisor on Geography, Department of State. The agree-
ments reached were set forth in a Memorandum for the Record by Ch/G, dated
19 August.
A corrigenda to CIA/RR-G-15, The Soviet Arctic, to reconcile ERA and
GRA differences and add some current data, was prepared and sent to the
Chief, I/D/RR, for coordination.
Considerable time was spent in drafting the covering memorandum to
accompany the new UW feasibility reports. The draft prepared.
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was later revised by DD/P, eh? mas anxious to have the memoraedum
express the criteria used in preparation of the studies in terms that would
gibe with the thinking of the Service Commands and also state clearly the
factors that yere purposely not Considered in the studies. We also desired
te frame the memorandum so that, with minimum revision, it could be used
for all future studies.
Messrs. attended several meetings of the Working Group
on Antarctica, Operations Coordinating Board. The Progress Report being
prepared by the Working Group lays down plans for Antarctic operations 25X1A9a
beyond the end of the IGY in 1959. The program is in danger of being severely
cut because of the current economy drive in the Defense Department.
prepared a section giving the CIA and Department of State reasons for wanting
continuation of specified US bases for intelligence and political reasons.
The Annual Report of the NIS Program for Fiscal /ear 1957 commends the
Geography Division NIS production thus: The CIA met its production comeitment
in full, and the performance of two of its producing coeponents is deserving
of special mention. The CIA Coordinator of NIS Chapter IX (Map and Chart
Appraisal) submitted the contributions to this chapter and to Chapter I
(Beier) in close conformity to the scheduled submission dates, with improve-
ment in quality of the materials over the previous yoE 25X1A2a
At the invitation of the Department of State,ply. participated
in a conference of policy officers on the US posit and reply to the
disturbing British proposal to establish a Condominium over Antarctica that
25X1A9a eventually yeeld include the USSR. 25X1A9a
Pertinent parts of CIA/RR-GB1-4 yere discussed with d
iitran
AF/N, Departmento e, _
WS re discussed at length eith of
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I
In the interest of improved coordination of translation activity,
Par east Branch, advised personnel of PDD and FE-4 concerning
iligigny of translated Japanese documents on Indo-China. This action
should make it possible to cancel a requirement that would have necessitated
an outside contract for the particular translation job involved.
25X1A9a
The paelest Branch reports continued good relations with the various
members of DD/P? particularly as a result of the Some
operational personnel visited GG/F, and a better or operational
procedures in the area of interest is now held as a result f these oonvere
sations. Also, an agreement has been made with DD/P1 that will
permit more effective use of the translations or ciUnese place names on
the Chinese 1:1,000,000 maps. The relationships ahould prove feeltfel for
all concerned.
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III. ADMINISTRATION
The Divisiot Chief was reappointed as a member of the Panel of &inners
of the CIA Selection Board for FX 1958. 25X1A9a 25X1A9a
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Personnel actions ? A t
on u y ear East Africa Branch and will assume area responsi-
bility for Africa4
participated in the special Cold Weather Survi
Course, 5-13 August 57, at the The 25X1C
course includ 4 nights and 5 ys camping on ice, and a series of training
exercises in ice-wall climbing, glacier and crevasse safety, rescue techniques,
and general cold weather problems. /be course provided excellent practical
insight into some of the problems of operating on ice.
departed on 13 A t to at Regional IOU Conference in Tokyo. Nessrs.
who ? v in Europe, returned
? 1 ssrs. returned on 12 August
after attending a six-wee course on ic Studies, McGill University, 25X1A2a
Sansbead. 25X1A9a
received a cash award for a meritorious suggestion.
Geogra hoto Intelligence Cour
began the
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The Division Chief lectured on geographic intelligence before a group
of jars, as a part of the Intelligence Orientation Course.
Consideration is being given in the Division to a course of study on VW,
comprised of lectures, panel discussions and field demonstrations, that the
Office of Training might work out to assist our personnel working on the OW
feasibility studies.
IV. PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
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presents the followiug: When in
will investigate the possibilities of Geographic Area personnel b;alltiMgned
The Europe Brandh
laillo us in OW, E and. Bo and similar type studies. It Yin never be 25X1A6a
There is a wealth of information available in the field that is
nada available to us until a geographer is on the spot to obtain and process
it. The preoccupation with economic information of the
is such that little or no geographic data Is rorwarded unless 25X1A6a
s incidental to same conomic reporting or is the result of ef.orts of
o rs on W. A geographer Should be assigned possibly
team for administrative purposes but his job description Should
e yr so that he would not be tied down and limited to duties in HA.
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building
as necesaary. Furthermore, if the Areisoasat
Re should be able to move between
envisaged in "Geographic Central Support Services in Wartime," presented
during Operation Alert, the Area ahould have a group of people familiar
with the operation of an outpost and the working relationships between
the various components in the field, who are available to assume field
positions in the event of an emergency.
An CCI Digest article on the British proposal on Antarctica, pUbliehed
without coordination with the Geography Division, was the cause of some
etharrassment at a Working Group Meeting when be was asked to
comment on the article, which be had not seen and -with which he did not agree.
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reports that hieler level representation of DD I interests 25X1X7
DD P will be uired in order to step up planning for
Far East Branch personnel feel that the DD/I/RR Vacancy Listings would
be of greater value and would be more favorably regarded by ORR. :personnel
if all DD/I position vacancies were listed. For example, what about the
following recent position vacancies: DD/I Represeatatived111111MINI
Representative and Deputy, ORB Team Leader, and Chief
CSS? For the sake of employee morale, it is recommended that all position
vacancies be included in the listings, or, alternatively, that a policy
statement be issued to clarify why some positions are not listed.
The Bear East/Africa Branch again calls attention to a bottleneck in
receipt of documents and an apparent misunderstanding of function in
connection with CSB. Attention is directed to a conversation between a
CSS person and a member of GG/N wherein surprise was expressed that material
of interest to CBS is wanted. It was implied that "in the usual conduct
of mapping activities of the Geographic Area there should be no need for
current despatch material of interest to CSS." The CBS person was thoroughly
briefed on D/GG interests.
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V. SCHEDULED WORE
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Control
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Title
2/ Est. Date of
Requester Status Publication -I
Geographic Intelligence Review, CIA/RR-MR
60.1527 Geographic Intelligence Review, MR-53 Routine
Geographic Intelligence Reports (for standard distribution) - CIA/ER-G
61.1211
61.1212
66 1257
61.1273
62.1374
61.1380
64.1430
66.1470
0-17
64.1486
G-18
64.1487
Geography of Ningsia, Suiyuan, Charhar,
and Shensi
Geography of Sinkiang
Status of Latin American BonnAaries
Geography of Tibet
Northern Afghanistan
Regional Analysis of BE Thailand
Magadanskaya Oblast
Assessment of Petroleum Potential in Lt.Am.
814111*
Delayed
***
Inter.Am. ***
Geod. Survey
Delayed
Mt. *4**
Self .iriit. ***
Self-init. In abeyance
Self-mit. Reprod.
Geographical Analysis of Novaya Zemlya Self-init.
Noriltsk Urban Study Self-init.
Geographic Intelligence Reports
69.1189 riPPIPPIIRMWMesy,n.oecouaon
25X113 64.1158
Photogram. and Cartography
69.1279 Satellite Geodetic Activity since the
Sofia conference
25X6 65.1282
63.1322
69.1323
63.134o
63.1341
63.1342
for limited and special distribution),
Critique of "Basic Problems of Geodetic
Gravimetry" by Molodinskiy
Urban Area Study: Korce, Albania
Urban Area Study: Sofia, Bulgaria
Urban Area Study: Burgas, Bulgaria
1/ See last page for symbols
AFOIN
Self-mit.
AFOIN
AFOIN
Self -mit.
4141**
*it**
Delayed
**NI,
Delayed
Delayed
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IV 57
Open
rv 57
.1v 57
Open
Iv 57
1V57
Open
September 57
Iv 5T
1V57
IV 57
Open
Open
October 57
Open
Open
Tv 57
Open
11 58
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Project
Control Title
Requester
CliRI-GR-Continued
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61.1345
AFOIN
65.1346
AFOIN
61.1357
62.1391
AFOIN
62.1409
AFOIN
61.1414
AFOIN
69.1415
Contribution to NIC: Geodesy,
Cartography, Gravimetry
GMIC
65.1433
AFOIN
64.114.37
Ter-r. -Adm. Divisions of USSR
Self-init.
R-155
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62.1444
MOIR
60.1447
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GR-112
61.1448-
(12 studies)
1459
61.1462
64.1463
62.1490
63.1524
64. I
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sis of orn tiva ion
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Est. Date of
publication
*** Open
**if* III 57
it** 1V57
*** Open
41** Open
*** .Open
Continuing Open
Open
**** III 57
*** Open
*114* September 57
Delayed Open
AFOIN Open 25X1A
IMF Delayed Open
*Pi** mit 57
AFOIN Open
AG RR * September 57
October 57
September 57
Open
September 57
September 57
58
58
x8
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
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ols 25X1A2g
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I
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Title
Requester
tria-Rungary ONI
63.1573 Border Study: Ibingsry-Yugoslavia
Exteernal Research - CIA/RR-ER (0130
ON/
Ett. Date of1/
Statusli Publication -1
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/ 25X1A2g
69.908
Add.Ref. to Soy. Diagrams, Sketches, Photographs of
In abeyance
Soy. Geodetic and Photogramanstruments (ER-6)
69.908
Report on Soviet Cartography (ER-12)
In abeyance
69.908
Selected List of Ref. to Soy. Cartography
In abeyance
69.908
Selected Bibliography of Soy. Geodesy (ER-14)
In abeyance
2/ See last page for symbols
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Open
Open
Open
Open
September 57
IV 57
I8
158
Iv 57
April 58
Nay 58
November 57
November 57
November 57
Open
Open
Open
Open
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Project
Control NIS Chapter I, Section 19
60.1510 NIS 22, Rumania
60.1511 BIS 30, Iraq
60.1512 NIS 6, Luxembourg
60.1513 NIS 170 Italy
60.1514 NIS 48, Morocco
60.1515 NIS 29, Jordan
25X6 60.1516 EMEMER
NIS Chapter IX
Status of Estimated
Coordination Date to OBI
In process September 57
Scheduled October 57
Scheduled January 58
Scheduled February 58
Scheduled March 58
Scheduled April 58
Scheduled June 58
60.1478 NIS 90.,. Argentina In proceas
60.1479 NIS 29v1, Jordan Scheduled
60.1480 NIB SwitzerlandScheduled
I25X6A25X6 60.1481 Scheduled
60.1482 NIS 77, Panama Scheduled
60.1483 NIS 34, Afghanistan Scheduled
25X6 60.1484 Scheduled
I 60.1564 NIS 250, Cyprus Scheduled
r1 60.1565 NIS 55, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Somalilands Scheduled
1 60.1566 NIS 2, Ireland Scheduled
60.1567 NIS 102, Southwest Pacific Islands Scheduled
25X6 60.1568 Scheduled
25X6 25X6 60.1569 Scheduled
60.1570 NIS 101 West Pacific Islands Scheduled
60.1571 NIS 3O, Iraq Scheduled
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November 57
November 57
December 57
January 58
March 58
April 58
June 58
August 58
October 58
November 58
January 59
February 59
March 59
April 59
June 59
Project
Control
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Title
Geo raphic Memorandum - G/I
61.1214 Change in Province Areas, China
64.1540 Coverage of USSR by trips by private
individuals and exchange groups
#64.1581 US-USSR Ag.Analogues
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Geographic Mem?111211112/1
169.1577
160.1,82
Accuracy of target positioning inside USSR
Geog.Highlights of Terr.Waters (5 studies)
Service Jobs - G/S
66.1185
66.1186
63.3.209
63.1316
64.1419
BR Net of Latin Ameeica
Survey of No. Arctic/Sub-Arctic Research
City Plea: Gdansk, Poland
City Plan: Bucharest, Rumania
USSR RR Map
Requester
Statue
M/AG/RR
OCR (Com. *
on Exch.)
M/AG/BR
Navy
GE/State
Self-lalt.
Self-init.
S 171
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Est. Date of1/ ,
Publication -J
To be cancelled
September 57
September 57
Open
September 37
3./
Open
In abeyance Open
Delayed IV 57
** III 57
1/ Status
I Initial research started.
* Research 1/3 complete.
** Research 2/3 complete.
*** Research in final stage.
**** Preparation for reproduction in process.
.?../ 425 copies each of 3 maps delivered to
International Conf. Division, State,
for Pan Am.Ry.Congress. A brief
"monograph" in preparation for other
distribution (with maps).
Delayed: Work scheduled but due date and/or
other work do not warrant beginning
project.
Some work done but higher priority
work has taken precedence.
New project initiated during month.
Quarter of calendar year.
In abeyance:
ih
Roman Numeral:
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