(EST PUB DATE) MEMO TO DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PLANS, INTELLIGENCE, SUPPORT AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE AGENCY'S EFFORTS TO MONITOR INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITES OF RADICALS AND BLACK MILITANTS WHICH MAY AFFECT NATIONAL SECURITY

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01475728
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: September 1, 1969

'
ri
. .
"Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C014757281969
: �.� �
�
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Plans/
.Deiputy Director for Intelligence
�Deputy Director for Support
Deputy Director for Science and Technology
1. I recently have reviewed the Agency's efforts to monitor
those international activities of radicals and black militants which may
affect the national security. I believe that we have the proper approach
in discharging this sensitive responsibility, while strictly observing the
statutory and de facto proscriptions on Agency domestic involvements.
� 2. My understanding is that OCI carries this responsibility in
the Intelligence Directorate, andilthat arrangements have been made in
each geographic division to ensure continuing coverage of pertinent activi-
ties and systematic compilation of useful information. CIA officer's
reassignment removes from the scene an experienced and knowledgeable
analyst of these matters, and it is my hope that a suitable replacement
will be found and developed.
3. I appreciate that there are several components in the
Clandestine Service with a legitimate operational interest in the radical
milieux. At the same time, it should.be understood that Mr. Ober's
Special Operations Group of CI Staff has the principal operational respon-
sibility for coordinating and developing operations to collect information
on aspects of activities abroad which have a direct bearing on U.S.
radical and black militant movements. I expect that area divisions and
senior stais will be fully cooperative in this effort, both in exploiting
existing sources and in developing new ones, and that Mr. Ober will have
the necessary access to such sources and operational assets. �
4. It is Most important' to ensure that Mr.. Ober's Group has a
small coterie of knowledgeable, effective officers. He needs two kinds
of people: skilled analysts who can produce written material coherently
and quickly, and experienced operations officers, ideally with a demon-
strated ability to work in this sensitive area. If the right people are /
scarce and already ensconced mother activities, a select few nonethe-
less ought to be broken away for assignment to CI Staff.
S' �
OF:C47.7
cv
�
� . qr.?,
,Y � , �
�
Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01475728
� Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01475728
�
*5. A formidable obstacle to Mr. Ober at present is the backlog
of undigested raw information at his disposal. In addition to assigning
skilled analysts to deal with the flow of information, there is an obvious
need for introducing expanded, sophisticated computer support. I under-
stand that the Office of Computer Services possesses on-line capabilities
and other facilities which not only would provide vastly improved informa-
tion storage and retrieval but also affords the possibility of a data link .
with certain other elements of the security community. I would urge the
earliest utilization of this capability. A rational combination of able
officers and computers ought also to foster the twin virtues of holding
Mr. Ober's TO to an acceptable level and minimizing the number of
individuals with access to sensit've intelligence and operational informa-
tion. l
6. It is also important to ensure that a cooperative and supportive
relationship exists between the Office of Security and Mr. Ober's Group.
I expect that information collected by the Office of Security as part of its
normal security mission, but which has a bearing on the targets of the
Group, will be provided to the Group. Office of Security checks with
other domestic repositories of information, involving targets of interest
. to the Group, should be closely coordinated with it.
Rich rd Helms
Director
ti. 1...
� ill s;
�t 0.1 9 � �
1*; � is_ I
Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01475728