GUIDELINES FOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INFORMATION THIRTY YEARS OLD OR OLDER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00674R000100020004-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2007
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: April 1, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

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Date
Reply to
Ann of
To
TO:
General National Archives
Services and
Administration Records Service Washington, DC 20408
APR 1 i980
N
Guidelines for systematic review of foreign government
information thirty years old or older.
NC, NL, NN
1. In fulfillment of the provisions of Section 3-404 of Executive Order
12065 the affected executive agencies have developed the attached systematic
review guidelines. It was approved and issued by the Acting Director,
Information Security Oversight Office on March 5, 1980 and appears as a
final rule in the Federal Register.
2. You and the especially trained members of your staff are authorized to
apply these guidelines to all permanently valuable records containing
information more than thirty years old which was provided to the United
States Government in confidence by a foreign government or international
organization of governments.
3. The declassification stamp marking to be applied to such documents as
are individually declassified pursuant to this authority should appear as-
follows:
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12065, Sec. 3-404
For. Govt. Info. Guidelines, March 5, 1980
By NARS, Date
4. NARS general and specific restrictions will continue to be applied to
accessioned records as in the past. The donor restrictions on donated
historical materials will be applied prior to release.
5. The following guidelines are superseded:
a. "Review for declassification of 30-year-old foreign classified
information" issued by NN on August 6, 1976.
b. "Staff guidance on opening and declassifying Canadian Department of
External Affairs information and material through December 31, 1949"
issued by NN on September 14, 1976.
C~ L 2661,1,
v w t 5I v~. I niN
1.j,t`L-/ C c
JAMES E. O'NEILL
c. "Guidelines for systematic review of foreign government information
thirty years old or older" issued by NN on December 26, 1979.
6. Any questions concerning this matter should be referred to NND (523-3165).
Acting Archivist f" ivc - a u of F ~( 4i %' ~ , s
of the United States AIL,- 04-(t4
~c, ~ .~{ a ( & ~ E`er Bch
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GUIDELINES FOR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF
FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
THIRTY YEARS OLD OR OLDER
5 MAR 1980
A. PURPOSE.
These Guidelines for the systematic review and declassification of foreign
government information have been developed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3-404 of Executive Order 12065, "National Security Information," and
Section III.C of Information Security Oversight Office. Directive No. 1. All
foreign government information constituting permanently valuable records of the
United States Government, for which a prior declassification date has not been
established, shall be systematically reviewed for declassification as it becomes
thirty years old. Foreign government information found to be within one of the
specific categories of information listed in Part F below shall be reviewed
item-by-item by authorized personnel of the agency. or agencies concerned to
determine whether continued protection beyond thirty years is needed. All foreign:
government information not identified in these Guidelines as requiring item-by-item.
review and for which a prior declassification date has not been iestablishesid
be declassified at the end of thirty years from
B. DEFINITION.
"Foreign government information'' as used in these Guidelines consists of:
1. Documents or material provided by a foreign government or governments,
international organization of governments, or any element thereof in the expectation,
expressed or implied, that the document, material, or the information contained
therein is to be held in confidence;
2. Documents originated by the United States that contain classified informa-
tion provided, in any manner, to the United States by foreign governments,
international organizations of governments, or elements thereof,
expectation, express or implied, that the information will be held in confidence;
letterpursuant
3. Classified information or material produced by the UnitdofStates
to or as a result of a joint arrangement, evidenced by exchange lts, or
memorandum of understanding, or other written record, with a foreign government
organization of governments requiring that the information, the arrangement, or both
be kept in confidence.
C. SCOPE.
i. These Guidelines apply to 30-year old foreign government informatior.
which has been received or classified by the United States Government or its agents.
2. Atomic energy information (including that originated prior to 1947 and
not marked as such, that received from the United Kingdom or Canada marked "Atomic,"
and that received from Formerly marke iwhich i
Restricted Data or Form y Restr is not
Energy Act of 1954, as amended, is outside the scope of these Guidelines and
subject to systematic review and may not be automatically downgraded or declass reed.
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Any document containing information within the definition of Restricted Data or
Formerly Restricted Data that is not so marked will be referred to the Department
of Energy Office of Classification for review and appropriate marking, except for
licensing and related regulatory matters which shall be referred to the Division of
Security, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
D. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES.
1. Foreign government information transferred to the General Services
Administration for accession into the National Archives of the United States shall
be reviewed for declassification by the Archivist of the United States in accordance
with Executive Order 12065, the directives of the Information Security Oversight
Office, these Guidelines, any applicable terms of accession, and any supplerental
guidelines provided by the agency with classification jurisdiction over the
information.
2. Foreign government information constituting permanently valuable records
of the Government (as defined in 44 U.S.C. 2103) that is 30 years old and undergoing
systematic review for declassification while in the custody of an agency shall,
except as provide: in Part C above, be reviewed for declassification and downgrad:ng
by that agency in accordance with Executive Order 12065, the directives of the
Information Security Oversight Office, these Guidelines, and any supplemental
internal agency guidelines.
3. Foreign government information falling within any of the categories listed.
in Part F of these Guidelines shall be declassified or downgraded only upon specific
authorization of the agencies to which the information was furnished by the foreign
government or international organization of governments concerned and/or which have
classification jurisdiction over it. When such information is in the custody of an
agency but was furnished to or classified by, or is otherwise under the classiiicat:----n
jurisdiction of another agency or agencies the information shall be referred thereto
for review. Information so referred shall 'remain classified until all rev:_wing
agencies have authorized its declassification. If the custodial agency cannot reads i~
identify the agency or agencies having classification jurisdiction, the info ration
shall be referred in accordance with Part G of these Guidelines for review or
further referral.
4. Consultations with foreign governments concerning the proposed declassi-
fication of foreign government information shall be the responsibility of the agency
having classification jurisdiction over the information affected.
5. Foreign government information falling within any of the categories
in Part F of these Guidelines appearing in ,,,hite House documents, which is either
identifiable as having been furnished or appears to have been furnished by a foreign
government shall be reviewed by designated White House personnel and further referred
for review to any other agencies whose classification interest is indicated by the
nature or content of the documents.
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- J
E. EFFECT OF PUBLICATION.
1. Foreign government information shall be considered declassified when
published in an unclassified United States Government executive branch publication
(e.g., the Foreign Relations of the United States series) or when cleared for such
publication by United States Government executive branch officials authorized to
declassify the information; or if officially published as unclassified by the
foreign government(s) or international organization(s) of governments that furnished
the information unless the fact of the U.S. Government's possession of the infor-
mation requires continued protection.
2. The unofficial publication, in the United States or abroad, of foreign
government information contained in United States or foreign documents, or of
substantially similar information, does not in or of itself constitute or permit
the declassification of such documents. Although prior unofficial publication is
a factor to be considered in the systematic review process and may affect determin-
ations as to continuation of classification, there may be valid reasons for ccr.*_nued
protection of the information which could preclude its declassification. In
particular,_the classification status of foreign government information which
concerns or derives from intelligence activities, sources or methods shall not be
affected by any unofficial' publication of identical or similar info ation. The
final determination as to the declassification of foreign goverment information
similar to or identical with unofficially published information shall be made by
the agency or agencies having classification Jurisdiction over it.
F. CATEGORIES REQUIRING ITEM-BY-ITEM REVIEW.
Foreign government information falling into the specific categories listed
below shall be reviewed for declassification in accordance with Part A above:
1. Information exempted from declassification under any joint arrangement
evidenced by an exchange of letters, memorandum of understanding, or other written
record, with the foreign government or international organization of governments, or
element(s) thereof, that furnished the information. Questions concerning the
existence or applicability of such arrangements shall be referred to the agency or
agencies holding classification jurisdiction over the records under review.
2. Information related to the safeguarding of nuclear materials or facilities,
foreign and domestic, including but not necessarily limited to vulnerabilities and
vulnerability assessments of nuclear facilities and Special Nuclear tifaterial.
3. Nuclear arms control information (see also #11 below).
4. Information regarding foreign nuclear programs (other than Restricted Data
and Formerly Restricted Data), such as:
a. Nuclear weapons testing.
b. Nuclear weapons storage and stockpile.
c. Nuclear weapons effects, hardness, and vulnerability.
d. Nuclear weapons safety.
e. Cooperation in nuclear programs including, but not limited to,
peaceful and military applications of nuclear energy.
f. Exploration, production and import of uranium and thorium from
foreign countries.
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5. Information concerning intelligence or counterintelligence sources,
methods or activities including but not limited to intelligence, counterintelligence
and covert action programs, plans, policies, operations, or assessments; or which
would reveal or identify:
.L 4
a. Any present, past or prospective undercover personnel,
installation, unit, or clandestine human agent, of the
United States or a foreign government;
b. Any present, past or prospective method, procedure, mode,
technique or requirement used or being developed by the
United States or by foreign governments, individually or
in combination, to produce, acquire, transmit, analyze,
correlate, assess, evaluate or process intelligence or
counterintelligence, or to support an intelligence or
counterintelligence source, operation, or activity;
c. The present, past or proposed existence of any Joint
United States and foreign government intelligence,
counterlnteliigence, or covert action activity or facility,
or the nature thereof.
6. Information that could result in or lead to actions which would place an
inc_viccal in eorardv attributable to disclosure of the information, including _-t
not limi:ec to:
a. Info= ation identifying any individual or organization as a
confidential source of intelligence or counterintelligence.
b. Information revealing the identity of an intelligence,
counterintelligence or covert action agent or agents.
1n cc .3 , about Foreign individuals, organizations or even:: s '? h:=-' --
_scicsed, could be expected to:
a. A d':ersely affect a foreign country's or international
organization's present or future relations with the
United States.
b. Adversely affect present or future confidential exchanges
between the United States and any foreign government or
international organization of governments.
S. Information related to plans (whether executed or not, whether presented
in whole or in ;art), programs, operations, negotiations, and assessments shared by
1_.:.ed
one or several foreign governments with the United States, including but not
to those involving the territory, political regime or government of another country,
and which if disclosed could be expected to adversely affect the conduct of U.S.
foreign policy or the conduct of another country's foreign policy with respect to a
third country or countries. This item would include contingency plans, plans for
covert political, military or paramilitary activities or operations by aoreir.
government acting along or jointly with the United States Government, and positions
or actions taken by a foreign government alone or jointly with the United States
concerning border disputes or other territorial issues..
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9. Information concerning arrangements with respect to foreign basing of
cryptologic operations and/or foreign policy considerations relating thereto.
10. Scientific information such as that concerning space; energy,.climatology,
communications, maritime, undersea, and polar projects, that could be expected to
adversely affect current and/or future exchanges of such information between the
United States and any foreign governments or international organizations of
governments.
11. Information on foreign policy aspects of nuclear matters, the disclosure
of which could be expected to adversely affect cooperation between one or more
foreign governments and the United States Government.
12. Nuclear propulsion information.
1S. Information concerning the establishment, operation, and support of
nuclear detection systems.
14. Information concerning or revealing military or paramilitary escape,
evasion, cover or deception plans, procedures, and techniques whether executed or
not.
13. Information which could adversely affect the current or future usef lr.ess
of military of defense policies, programs, weapon systems, operations, or plans.
16. Information concerning research, development, testing and evaluation of
chemical and biological weapons and defense systems; specific identification of
chemical and biological agents and munitions; and chemical and biological warfare
plans.
17. Technical information concerning weapons systems and military equipment
that reveals the capabilities, limitations, or vulnerabilities of such systems or
equipment and that could be exploited to destroy, counter, render ineffective or
neutralize such weapons or equipment.
18. Cryptologic information, including cryptologic sources and methods,
currently in use. This includes information concerning or revealing the processes,
techniques, operations, and scope of signal intelligence comprising communications
intelligence, electronics intelligence, and telemetry intelligence, the crvpto-
security and emission security components of communications security, and the
communications portion of cover and deception plans.
19. Information concerning electronic warfare (electronic warfare support
measures, electronic counter-countermeasures) or related activities, including but
not necessarily limited to:
a. Nomenclature, functions, technical characteristics or descriptions
of communications and electronic equipment, its employment/develop-
ment, and its association with weapon systems or military
operations.
b. The processes, techniques, operations or scope of activities
involved in the acquisition, analysis and evaluation of such
information, and the degree or success achieved by the above
processes, techniques, operations or activities.
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20. Present, past or proposed protective intelligence information relat:n? to
the sources, plans, techniques, equipment and methods in carrying out assigned duties
of protecting United States Government officials or other protectees abroad and
foreign officials while in the United States or United States possessions. This
includes information concerning the identification of witnesses, informants and
persons suspected of being dangerous to persons under protection.
21. Information on deposits of foreign official institutions in United States
banks and on foreign official institutions' holdings, purchases and sales of long-
term marketable securities in the United States.
22. Information concerning economic and policy studies and sensitive assessments
or analyses of economic conditions, policies or activities of foreign countries or
international organizations of governments received through the Multilateral Develop-
ment Banks and Funds or through the international Monetary Fund (IMF) and the
organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
23. Information described in subparts 1 through 22 of this Part contained in
correspondence, transcripts, memoranda of conversation, or minutes of meetings ~e_'Aeen
the President of the United States or the Vice President of the'United States and
foreign government officials.
221. Information described in subparts 1 through 22 of this Part contained :n
doc::nents originated by or sent to the Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs, his Deputy, members of the National Security Council staff, Or any
other person on the ',,'hite House or the Executive Office of the President staffs
performing national security functions.
25. Federal agency originated documents bearing Presidential, National Security
Council, or White House or Executive Office of the President staffs comments relating
to categories of'information described in subparts I through 22 of this Fart.
26. Information as described in subparts 1 through 22 of this Part contained in
correspondence to or from the President or the Vice President, including =: gro rid
briefing memoranda and talking points for meetings between the President or the Vice
President and foreign government officials, and discussions of the timing and :.:rpcses
of such meetings.
27. Information as described in subparts 1 through 22 of this Fart contained in
agency message traffic originated by White House or Executive Office of the President
staffs members but sent through agency communication networks.
G. REFERRAL AND DECISION.
1. When the identity of agencies having classification jurisdiction over
foreign government information is not apparent to the agency holding the information,
or when reviewing officials do not possess the requisite expertise, classification
jurisdiction for systematic review shall be transferred as follows:
Categories
2 through
4,
Department of Energy or Nuclear
ulatory Commission (as appropriate;
Re
g
5
through
6,
Central intelligence Agency
7
through
11,
Department of State
12
through
19,
Department of Defense
20
through
22,
Department of the Treasury
23
through
27,
National Security. Council
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~. Agencies shall declassify inrormation when it is determined after any
necessary consultation with other United States agencies and, as appropriate, ,;it;
foreign governments and international organization of governments that the infor-
mation no longer requires classification protection. If it is determined that
classification must be extended beyond 30 Years, the provisions of Section III,C,'b;
of Information Security Oversight Office Directive No. 1 apply.
Foreign government information classified Top Secret may be downgraded to
Secret after 30 years unless an agency with classification jurisdiction over it
determines on its own authority, or after consultation, as appropriate, with the
foreign government or international organization of governments which Turn _hed
the inform ation, that it requires continued protection at the Top Secret level.
ISSUED: '.arch 3, 1950
Robert W. wells
Acting Director
Thfornat-on Security Oversight Office
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
ROUTING SLIP
TO CO R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 RIO
NAME/TITLE
CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
3.
4.
5.
^ ALLOTMENT SYMBOL ^ HANDLE DIRECT ^ READ AND DESTROY
^ APPROVAL ^ IMMEDIATE ACTION ^ RECOMMENDATION
^ AS REQUESTED ^ INITIALS ^ SEE ME
^ CONCURRENCE ^ NECESSARY ACTION ^ SIGNATURE
^ CORRECTION ^ NOTE AND RETURN ^ YOUR COMMENT
^ FILING ^ PER OUR CONVERSATION OUR INFORMATION
^ FULL REPORT El PER TELEPHONE CONVERSATION ^
~ `
^ ANSWER OR ACKNOWL-
EDGE ON OR BEFORE
PREPARE REPLY FOR
THE SIGNATURE OF
REMARKS
FROM CO R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10
NAME/T TLE
--
CORR. SYMBOL
BUILDING.ROOM.ETC.
~
TELEPHONE
DAT
GSA 'UNFORM 67 14
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