AQUATONE COMMUNICATIONS LOAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62B00844R000200040027-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2002
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: July 15, 1957
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/11/19 : CIA-RDP62B00844~R000200040027-0
O dt SAPC-17206/'
Copy/ of 6
15 July 1957
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT : AQUATONE Communications Load
1. You will remember several discussions in the Director's
morning Staff meetings of the enormous and steadily growing communica-
tions traffic of the Agency. At one of these meetings it was pointed out that
AQUATONE alone is responsible for a significant fraction of the total traffic.
Following that meeting I asked the AQUATONE Project Communications
Officer to survey the traffic generated by the Project with a view to deter-
mining whether, taking account of the subject matter, quality and draftsman-
ship of the traffic, he believed that any important reduction of volume could
be achieved.
2. A basic fact about the traffic generated by this Project is
that nearly half of the total represents
Taking account of this
situation as we as the whole character of the Project communications
arrangements, the Project Communications Officer concludes that a signifi-
cant reduction in traffic could be reached in only three ways:
a. The scheduling of penetration missions at least two weeks
in advance.
b. The launching of such missions with no close control by
this Headquarters.
C. The deactivation of one (or more) overseas bases.
I believe you will agree with me that, in view of our dependence on weather
information from Suitland and the political requirement for close control of
these operations, a. and b, above are impracticable. The elimination of
25X1 C
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 Approved For Release 2002/'~%'gA-RDP62B0084W00200040027-0
one of our three overseas bases will presumably be accomplished within
three or four months but cannot be accomplished much sooner.
3. Approaching the problem from a different direction, our
25X1 C active traffic can roughly be classified
by subject matter. The three largest components in such a classification
by content are those having to do with: Operational matters, Materiel and 25X1 C
Logistics matters, and Administration. By a considerable mar .in the
second category accounts currently for the largest number of :~=
messages. I have myself investigated the feasibility of handling suc
communications as requisitions for supplies, reports of arrival of shipments,
and the like by dispatch rather than by wire. I have concluded that such a
procedure would double the lead time between the initiation of a requirement
in the Field and the filling of that requirement. This I believe could have
a crippling effect and I propose therefore to continue our present practice of
handling this traffic by electrical transmission,
4. As to the other two categories, I am satisfied that Operations'
traffic is being held to a minimum, and I can report that it is terse in
draftsmanship, sometimes to the point of obscurity. Traffic on administra-
tive matters, which includes Security, is at times voluminous. Our experience
has been, however, that prompt handling of both Security and Personnel
matters is essential, both to maintain morale and for efficiency. We have
also found it necessary at times to engage in rather extended discussion of
administrative matters with Detachment Commanders in order to ensure their
understanding of Headquarters' policies and decisions. I conclude there may
be some room for compression in this category but not very great.
5. I fear the over-all conclusion to be drawn from the foregoing
is that no major reduction in the volume of AQUATONE traffic is feasible
until one of our bases is deactivated. In the meanwhile, we will of course
make every effort to avoid unnecessary communications. I am submitting
this somewhat pessimistic report to you so that you and the Director will be
aware that we have not been inattentive of this problem.
RICHARD M. BISSELL, JR.
Project Director
Attachment:
Copy 1, SAPC-17205
25X1A
Approved For Release 2002/11 DP62B00844R000200040027-0