Dear General Smith:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04007A001100040034-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: February 19, 1952
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2001/09/07 : CIA-RDP78-04007A001100040034-9
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21137 Pepraintent nf Oustire, Pgasiiittiltait 25, E. I.
February 191 1952
General Walter B. Smith
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
Dear General Smith:
*DOJ Declassification/Release
Decision on File*
This is in reference to the President's letter of September 25,
1951, to Heads of Executive Departments andLAgencies,'advising that
he had directed, the -National Security: Council through its interdepart-
mental Committee on Internal Security to provide advice and assistance
to the Departments and Agencies in connection with Executive Order
1029(L'
Pursuant to instructions, the ICIS has established a Subcommittee
concerned exclusively with Executive Order 10290. The attached sheet
gives a digest of. the. Terms of Reference of this Subcommittee, its
membership, and the name end address of the Executive Secretary'. The
Subcommittee, at its first meeting on January 18 directed the Execu-
tive Secretary to canvass the Departments and Agencies to determine
the status of the various activities required in carrying out the
Executive Order. .
Recognizing the problems of certain Departments' and agencies,
the Subcomtittee will arrange for assistance in connection with the.
preparation of agency regulations under Executive Order 10290. Accord-
the Security representatives of the Department of State, the
Department of Defense And the Atomic Energy Commission have indicated
that those agencies would make staff members available for consultation
with the representatives of any Departments or agencies desiring assis-
tance. Requests for such assistance may be made directly with the
Security representatives of the State, Defense and A7c, or through the
Executive Secretary of the Subcommittee;
? The Subcommittee is hereby requesting from each Executive Depart-
ment or Agencyreceiving the President's-letter a report Of the status
,of the work of bringing the agency procedures into accord with the
Executive Order.', If new or revised regulations are being prepared we
would like to be advised as to when the draft e might be ready for review
for conformance With B. O. 10290. Me are also interested in the status
of your plans or programs for training and inspection as required by
,
the'brder.
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Attention is called to those provisions of the Executive Order
lthe references in the President's letter which emphasize that
security classifications set forth in the Order apply only to infor-
mation the safeguarding of which is necessary in the interest of
national security. While many agencies may have little or no occasion
to soiclassify documents, the fact that work contributing directly
to the national defense is now so widely spread. throughout the struc-
ture of the government makes it necessary that any agency which may
handle classified material be prepared to carry out effectively the
terms of the Executive Order.
The effectiveness of the safeguards for 'security information as .
defined in the Order Is impaired by the assignment of security classi-
fications to information which should not be ao classified. it is .
therefore of great importance that the delegations of authority to
classify security information be -specific and clearly defined; In
those agencies which originate and handle little or no cl ssified
security information, the problem posed by Executive Order 10290
Should be considerably simplified by a very limited delegation of the
authority to classify, Or, as has been done it at least one agencyi
limiting theauthority to classify security information to the head
of the 'agency.,
Both the Executive Order and the President's letter emphasize
the importance of the proper delegation of authority and assignments of
responsibility in connection with the security regulations. :The Sub-
committee considers this a matter of the utmest importance in the con-
trol of information involving the national security. We would like
to be advised at the earliest practicable date of the name of the
official or officials having department or agency-wide responsibility
for the administration of Executive Order 10290. This does not refer
to the security Or public information representatives serving in a
staff capacity or directing specific phases of the programr but to the
-senior executives having overall responsibility, either for the entire
agency or for 4 major subordinate element thereof.
In addition, in order to insure proper handling of matters Which
may affect your agency, we should like to be advised immediately of
the member of your staff to whose attention communications dealing with
. .,?. ,
this Executive Order should be addressed.
It is requested that a status report or copies of draft regUla-
tions, if the are ready, be forwarded to the Executive Secretary.,
Subcommittee on Executive Order 10290, Roam 1318, Department of Justice
Building, at your earliest convenience.
For the Subcommittee/
'Edward R, ;-Trapnell
Executive Secret, y
1018 StbcommjAtee on ExecutiVe Order 10290
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/C/S badCOMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE ORDER 10290
Background
E.O. 10290, dated September 24, 1951, prescribed Regulations Establishiag
Minimum
Standards for the Classification, Transmission, and Handling by:
Departments and AgencieS:ofetheExecutive Branch, of Official information Which
Requires Safeguarding in the Interest of the Security of the United States.
,PUrsuant to instructions of the President to the National Security Council,
as indicated :in the President us letter of September 25 to Heads of EkeettiVe.
Departments and Agencies,::the-MWInterdepartmental Committee on Internal Security
created a special Subcomtee on E.O. 10290 to "furnish advice and assistance
'to the Departments and Ag neieS in connection with these regulations and to,
maintain continuing revieW-ofthe classification activities in every department
or agency to insure uniform and proper applic tion of these regulations
including
declassification whenever possible." Terms of Reference. for the Subcom;ittee -
were approved, by the ICISOnAlovedber 1, 1951
igest of Terms of Reference
The ICIS Subcommittee on E.O. 10290 is composed of one publicinfOrtation
and one security representative of the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense
and Justice, with a. full'time Executive Secretary. Representatives of other
agencies will participate as required in handling matters affecting Other.
Agencies.
The Subcommittee is to furnish advice and assistange to EXecutivel)epartments
and Agencies and maintain continuing review of activities in e eh agency to insure
proper application of the EXecutive Order.
The Subcommittee will review and advise as to adequacy and conformance with
E.O. 10290 the internal regulations adopted by Departments and Agencies to im-
plement the Executive Order; maintain lists of individuals in each Departthent
and Agency having responsibility for adminiptration of such regulations, and
require each department or agency to report periodically on administration of the
4ecUtive Order.
The Subcommittee is to insure that e ch department or agency establishes
an inspectional system, an educational program and effective procedures for
parrying out the purpopes of the Order.
The Subcommittee will also recommend to iCIS any additional measures con-
sidered necessary to effective administration of the order, incln4ing suggestions
from non-government sources.
BZscutive Secretary: Edward R. Trapnell
Roam 13180 Department of Justice
Code 197 (RE 8200)0 Mct, 223
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