CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE 'MORE OPEN'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400260037-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: September 28, 1978
• Content Type: MAGAZINE

Approved For Release 2005/01/12: CIA-RDP88-01315R000400k6Q0,04Qf
__ ___ i........... -.-... .TTT..TTI~TTR~ C C~ 1. c?( I~t,..l.[ IJ ?'~~ I
By Tony Ochiltree The United States has no such statute. While
PANAX WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT. ...Turner conceded that such 'a law would make the
work of the intelligence community easier, he had
WASHINGTON - Despite public suspicions to no .expectation that Congress would enact such
the contrary, the Central Intelligence Agency legislation. _--
presently operates a "more open" type of in-
telligence gathering than, any--other similar "THERE IS A difficult borderline area between
organization in the world. the rights. of citizens and- the obligation of the
government to. protect its secrets,>, Turner pointed
'that statement came from Adm.. Stanfield out.
Turner, Director of Central Intelligence, who told a Citizens' cig}its'should be defended' he continued,
recent Washington seminar- of Panax editors that but in doing so: the government should not cripple
Arrierica's intelligence community "functions in an the institutions charged with protecting those very
almost toally new environment." . . ' rights from foreign interference.
One way the British get around the problem is
WITHOUT MENTIONING Watergate by name, through a mechanism called the "D Notice." Under
Turner conceded there was evidence of some past that arrangement the British government confides
instances where "the CIA had abused secrecy." He to the top executives of the nation's media that a
insisted, however "there were more allegations certain important bit of information is in the
than facts" concerning the agency's misdeeds. government's hands and should not be referred to,
In Turner's view the CIA has lost, to some extent, without prior authorization, either in print or on the
- .
then trust and faith of the American people and now air.
faces the task of winning that back. He said: TURNER. SAID no consideration was being given
i .- _to. such.. an arrangement in the United States.
'We are forced into being. a "little more open ...
ThA CIA is operating a new model of intell Bence, It is difficult tosee how "a D Notice" system or
an official secrets act could be drafted that did not
for, the first time in the world." violate the Constitutions First Amendment-
TURNER SAID the next Congress will be asked- guarantee of free speech and a free press. ..
to approve a charter for the intelligence communi- Turner pointed out that legal complications likely
ty that would define clean guidelines for espionage . would arise in a case, say, where a- federal
and covert .work, protect. American secrets and yet employee slipped a confidential document to a
avdid any trampling of citizens; rights newsman.. Prosecuting the official would be possi-
f ble, but what about the newsman?.--
, From. the shall tone, employed: by
of 'the UNDER MOST foreign official secrets statutes-
criticism liberal media-~ and; ~-the -dnunflre of the reporter in sucta~ a case also would be guilty of
criticism that= came. frort~~: post-Watergate con- ;violating the law if he did not promptly report what.
gressional hearings on intelligence; It would be easy. "'had happened to the proper authorities. In the
for. an American citizen to gain the impressk i on that United States that would raise the whole question of
the CIA was an extremely sinister organization protection of a free press: - ; :..
opirating with almost no restraints:- -- --
Turner's statement to the Panax editors meeting Turner conceded that intelligence agents and
in CIA headquarters gave an entirely different plc- newsmen have a distinct adversary relationship.
tore. He characterized the agency as a highly ef- Agents collect and.. protect secrets. It is the
ficient one which also was mindful of its public lm-.. .-newsman's duty, on the other hand, to find out as
age. much as he can about what is going on. RUSSIA'S KGB would feel hamstrung by- the Recognizing this fact, Turner told the editors with
restrictions under which the CIA operates. Even the a grin: "We really do have a problem. with you t
intelligence agencies of America's allies -- Britain, newsmen when it comes to leaks. I'm taking a lot of
France and West Germany -? are given much more steps around here to cut you off. There is no way,
latitude. however, you can legislate to close all the cracks
For example, In any other western democracy but whether in regard to espionage or news leaks."
the United States, Daniel Ellsberg, the former 'HE THOUGHT' government secrets were -less
government e rW424WE$ : CIA-R 1iO Ilars ago and blamed
Papers availabl 1 e the widespread use of office copy duplicating
Washington Post undoubtedly.-. would, have been. machines for the change.
- ..da..a.t~ f violating various official secrets
.,rrsFt