MR. ROBERT DECHERT'S PRESENCE AT THE CLOSED SESSION ON 27 NOVEMBER 1957 OF THE SENATE PREPAREDNESS INVESTIGATING SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00357R000100270025-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: December 2, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/20: CIA-RDP61-00357R000100270025-5
OGC 7-2052
2 December 1957
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUB7ECT1 Mr. Robert Dechert's Presence at die Closed Session
on 27 November 1957 of the Senate Preparedness
Investigating Subcommittee of the Senate Armed
Services Committee
1. At the very beginning of the Senate Preps.reskiese Investigating
Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Chairman,
Senator Lyndon flolinson. assured himself that ell members of die Sub-
committee staff and assistants to the Subcommittee members were
TOP SECRET cleared and had a "0" clearance. He then made the
statement that be assumed Mr. Dulles took responsibility for the CIA
employees present and asked whether there were any other persons
present.
2. Since Ur, Robert Do chart. General Counsel. Department
of Defense. and General Warren were present with the knowledge of
the DC1. Ur. Dulles indicated there were two Defense Department
representatives present and that be. Mr. Dulles. was agreeable to
their being present. There was some questioning by Senator Johns**
as to whether ox not they would contribute or assist the DCI in his
testimony and the DCI answered that it possibly would he helpful in the
future if DOD representatives were present. However. Senator Johnson
Indicated theta. Chairman he would issue invitations for those person.
whom be wished to be present. With this Mr. Dechert and General
Warren left.
3. Mr. Dechert t.le1Jioned the undersigned on 2 December
to inquire *bout the availability of the transcript of the CIA testimony.
He was informed that the Committee staff by apparent direction of the
Subcommittee Chairman specified that it did not desire the transcript
to be made available outside of the Agency. Mr. Dediert was assured
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that be Agency had no objection to his attempting to secure the
transcript through the Committee itself. Mr. Dechert advised me
that he had received the copy of the Director's statement from which
be testified.
4. In additions Mr. Dechsrt raised the questioa of kis being
requested to leave the 27 November. He stated that II
Mr. Dulles had saiwered Senator ,Iolutsoa's question indicating that
since a great deal of latelligeace is received from the DOD and that
possibly Mr. Dechert could be helpful he Mr. Ditcher*. beittvloci
Senator JAMS** woad have permitted him to stay. It is, of curse,
impossible for me to quote this conversallos verbatim bet the thrust
of it to me is that Mr. Deo:here has rationalised this ember:easing
incident in such a way that he believes the DCI could have avoided the
Incident. Mr. Maul also advised that one of the staff members
did approach him prior to the commeacerneat of the closed session and
asked whether hie provoke* iss the session was 1sst." Dikelsert stated
that he informed the staff member that the matter wassail cleared."
I did nit attempt to discus* this matter with Mr. Dechert mad closed
the csaversatioa by merely saying it was an unfortuaate ',midmost.
VirrigV
JOHN S. WARNER
Legislative Counsel
cc: DCI
DDGI
DIVS
Aeg. c Subject
Leg. C. Chrono.
OGG/ L C/JSW:mk
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/08/20: CIA-RDP61-00357R000100270025-5