MEETING WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES R. SCHLESINGER FRIDAY - MARCH 28, 1975 2:00 P.M. (30 MINUTES) THE OVAL OFFICE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 28, 1975
• Content Type: REPORT

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
4P !
MEETING WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
JAMES R. SCHLESINGER
Friday - March 28, 1975
2:00 P.m. (3 0 minutes )
The Oval Office
From: Henry A. Kissinger
I. PUR POSE
ON-FILE NSC
RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
To discuss defense issues of concern and to receive Secretary
Schlesinger's views on procedures being followed for responding
to requests by the Senate Select Committee to investigate intel-
ligence activities for information and documents.
II. BACKGROUND PARTICIPANTS & PRBSSPLA1Y4
A. Backgrounds As you know, the Senate Select Committee has
sent requests to each Department and Agency concerned with
intelligence matters for all documents, Executive Orders,
decision memoranda or policy directives pertaining to the
organization, charter and functioning of the various elements
of the intelligence community. In order to facilitate coopera-
tion with the Committee and in the interest of precluding the
compromise of sensitive intelligence information, sources and
methods, an inter-Agency Ad Hoc Committee has been formed
under the Chairmanship of Director Colby. The Committee will,
(1) coordinalm requests for information among the agencies
concerned; (2) make recommendations as to the character of
response, [e.g.. authorize sighting but not custody, sighting of
an abstract, provision of an abstract, provision of the actual
document]; and (3) serve as a central reference repository and
indexing center for all documents being provided. Once agree.
ment is reached within the Committee as to the character of the
response to a specific request, the proposed response will be
submitted to the White House where it will be reviewed by
representatives of the NSC, White House Council and Legislative
Affairs under the overall aegis of Phil Buchen.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
lp 49
In meetings of the Ad Hoc Committee to date, considerable
concern has been expressed as to the very high rtsll of corm
promise of any information provided as a result of willful
disclosure by selected staff member* of the Select Committee,
to the hope of m-inirrni.sing such disclosures, Phil Buchan will
attempt next week to establish, in coordination with the Chairman,
ruler that would permit sanitizing documents in certain
cases or providing oral briefings to Senators only, so as to
minimise the risk. The first group of documents, which was
carefully screened and does not contain highly sensitive material,
was submitted to the Committee yesterday.
Secretary Schlesinger has expressed particular concern over how
the Executive Branch review process is conducted. He has reser.
vations over what he views as a trend within the Ad Hoc Committee
toward supplying more sensitive information than is necessary or
desirable.
There is no question but that extreme care must be taken,
ularty in the early submissions, to guard against the disclosuoo of
sensitive information. At this meeting you may wish to assure
Secretary Schlesinger of your personal concern for the protection
of sensitive Information and of your intention to support whatever
measures are necessary to provost its disclosure.
B. Participants; Secretary Schlesinger, Phil Buchan, Brent Scoweroft..
Co Press Plant Meeting will be announced; White House photographer
,iv.
M. TALKING POINTS (As appropriate, depending on chlesingerr's concerns.)
1. I have reviewed the Senate Select Committee's requests for
information with Phil Buchan, Henry Kissinger and Jack Marsh
and want to insure that we take every possible precaution to
prevent the discloeeufa of sensitive intelligence Information.
The investigation promises to be a very searching and aggressive
effort. We face the very grave risk that some of our most
sensitive and vital sources and methods could be compromised
with the most severe impact on our foreign rotations and national
security.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7
49 0
2. A great deal of Information has been requested. Much of it can
be provided and I want to Instate that where that Is the case, we
are organized to complete our review process and expedite
submission. The focus of the Comxnitt.e's efforts will probably
be on those areas of greatest sensitivity. In preparation for
dealing with those canoe it is imperative that our positions are
well reasoned and thoroughly developed.
The Ad Hoc Committee organized by Bill Colby will provide an
adequate mechanism for processing the requests and coordinating
the inter-Agency review procesTho ultimate responsibility for
preserving the integrity of our intelligence institutions is with me
however. That is why I have tasked Phil Buchen together with the
NSC and Jack Marsh's office to make the final determination of
whether and how information in a particular case will be provided,
I want Phil Buchan Is group to be aware of and approve every
document that goes to the Hilt.
4. We are facing six to nine months of difficult deliberations. There
will be much public and press interest. Our responses must be
handled with the greatest forthrightness and discretion we can
muster. White I want to astaiat the Committee in performing its
function, I do not intend to compromise an principle.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2011/01/11 : LOC-HAK-65-4-17-7