Suggestion No. 58-5

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05597A000200060016-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 7, 1998
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: November 7, 1957
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 20.00%08/29: CIAfiRDP78-05597A000200060016-2
7 November 1957
SUBJECT: Suggestion No. 58-5
1. In our opinion the reference aids that are now available to
NIS users and researchers in the Intelligence Corn nunity provide, i
more -convenient Ineatxs of determining the coverage and the nuineripal
designation of NIS Areas than would the pr?posed Alphabetical Index of
NIS Reports.
2. The NIS STAI ARO INSTRUCTIONS contain a "listingnpf NIS
Area. arranged-in hurnerical order and NTH Area'. Index Map 'which.
shows We NIS number and the boundary of each land and ocean area.
These instructions were designed primarily for researchers and others
engaged in the NIS production program. For NIS users there is t4e
NIS RE "tRENC VIOL, a ' condensed version 0f the NIS STANDARD
INSTI UCTIONS with the addition `of sugge"stions on how to use the NIS,
which ,also contains a numerical listing of NIS Areas.' F'urthe,r,, the NIS
QUARTERLY PRODUCTION' REPORT contains a numerical listing, of the
NIB Areas on which published 1V'I'S elements are available, and a list of
the published eleilionter as weI it those in publication process in OBI
as of the, date of the report.
3. The above mentioned NIS reference aids. give complete and . ,,.
precise information on the numerical designation and Coverage of each
NIS Area, which the suggested Alphabetical index does not do, or
example, the' latter lists "Nationalist China, NIS No. 398 whereas
NIS No. 3913 also covers Hong Kong and Macao as'we'll'as all Jatioual.iat-
held Islands. There are other similar cases where thei coverage extends
bey and-tlie borders of the country name in the Alphabet ica.I Iridex, such as
Spain, Denmark, Ecuador and Portugal, to name a few.
1
JOri inal only ty ed an- forw?wrd.ed. - no file -o,,--,y
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP78-05597A000200060016-2
 Approved For Release P78-05597A000200060016-2
SUBJECT: Suggestion No. 58-5
7 November 1957
4. In several other respects we feel that the suggested index
is much too general `its area designations -to serve as a traihning or
library aid. For example, the proposed index lists only the fgtr
Ocean areas under the NIS nu #'nbers_ 104 through 107. These pcean
areas are divided trite Parts`as follows. '104.12 Parts, 1+95 -_12 Parts,
106. 4 Parts, and 107 - I Part. These Parts are produced 4,44 published
as individual units. To gain knowledge 6f'the area treated in each Part
requires reference to the NIS Index Map on the Ocean Areas. The NIS
Quarterly.Reporfa.fso lists the published NIS on Oceanography and
Marine Climate tinder the Part number-of the Ocean Area of which
it is a part. Further,' certain of the largest land areas are divide
into Parts for treatment in NIS Chapter" II (Military Geography) wha e
Chapter III through IX on those large areas treat the NIS Area as a
whole. There is no indication of this inn the suggested index and there is,
of course, no Information' on the boundaries of the Parts in Chapter rI
breakdown.
3. While the `suggested index might be of some limited value
as a training or library aid, it is not definitive enough to be of any
value to NIS producing personnel, nor, in our opinion, is there any
need for such an index among the users of the NIS.
6. For your ready reference in considering this matter, I am
attaching copies of the NIS Areas Index Maps which, in our opinion,
fully rAeete the 'requirement for which the 'Alphabetical Index was designed.
Enclosure:
NIS Areas Index Map
0-=?~ c;inal Only a- ~ forwarded - no file c Ray
Approved For Release 2000/08/29 : CIA-RDP78-05597A000200060016-2