TO THE HONORABLE LAURENCE H. SILBERMAN FROM W.E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000600070042-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 5, 2006
• Sequence Number: 42
• Publication Date: February 10, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

C.
Approved FoCENTaRsAL0106/, .1_1_16C A- PA7JJ QQC 4R00060 ?~80
N WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505 ~1N
X75-~~~l
10 February 1975
The Honorable Laurence H. Silberman
Deputy Attorney General
Department of Justice
Washington, D. C. 20530
Dear Larry:
As the staff of the Criminal Division moves further into its investi-
gation of certain matters arising out of activities of this Agency and as 'we
provide more and more detail for staff study and examination, we find a
few sensitive areas we think are subject to the development of some agreed-
upon ground rules.
Your staff in pursuing its independent investigation will inevitably
be acquiring extremely sensitive information, in particular, the names of
CIA employees, agents, contacts and sources, in materials being made
available by this Agency.
I know the staff of the Criminal Division has developed a special
regard for these sensitive items and the fact that they must be protected
against disclosure, However, I remain statutorily charged with the
responsibility to protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthor-
ized disclosure, Accordingly, I seek your cooperation in assisting me to
carry out this responsibility.
For this purpose the Agency has developed some important proce-
dures governing the handling of sensitive information being provided to
the Department, and I would hope you could agree to and accept these
procedures, They are similar to the procedures agreed upon between
the Agency and the President's Commission on CIA Activities Within the
United States,
I have no aim to deny you any relevant information, I only insist
that special protection be given to certain materials and information, the
exposure of which would he in derogation of my responsibility to protect
intelligence sources and methods.
b ^+
Approved For Release 2006/12/05 ; CIA-R DP77M00144R000600070042-6
 Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-RDP77M00144R000600070042-6
A copy of the proposed agreed procedures is enclosed. I would
appreciate your concurrence in their use,
Sincerely,
OGC:JSW:sin
Original - Addressee (Handcarried by WEColby & JSWarner 2/10/75)
1-DCI
1 - SA/DCI
1-DDO
1-IG
1-OLC
1 - ER, via Ex Secty
1-OGC
Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-RDP77M00144R000600070042-6
 Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-RDP77MOO144R000600070042-6
AGREED PROCEDURES ON THE HANDLING OF CIA MATERIALS BY THE
CRIMINAL DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
In meeting requests of the Criminal Division for information concerning
various CIA activities under investigation, CIA will provide folders containing
materials responsive to the requests.
As a general rule, the folders will contain no names except those of
well-known individuals. In place of names, the text will carry the word
"Iden, " followed by a number.
The withholding of names is solely for security purposes, designed
to avoid consequences of disclosure of sensitive intelligence operations
or sources, or to protect the cover status of various individuals and
organizations.
To meet this concern and at the same time facilitate Criminal Division's
review, CIA will forward to the Division a separate listing which will be a
break-out of the numbered Idens,
There will be three categories in the break-out listing.. One will
be those names which involve no unusual sensitivity, but whose identity
should be protected. An example would be an employee presently holding a
non-sensitive assignment at Headquarters, but who has in the past been
assigned overseas under cover or who may be so assigned in the future.
A second will be the names of those of special sensitivity, particularly
Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-RDP77MOO144R000600070042-6
 Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-R DP77M00144R000600070042-6
cover, Such names will be asterisked, it being understood that interviews
of them may require special arrangements and circumstances, The third
category will involve those whose status is so sensitive that a break-out
cannot be provided, In these cases, representatives of the Criminal
Division and the CIA Office of General Counsel will consult if the Division
requires the true identity,
The Criminal Division will file the break-out lists separately from
the activity folders to which they relate.
Because of their extreme sensitivity, the break-out lists will be
considered to be on loan to Criminal Division and will be returned to CIA
upon completion of the Division's work, CIA will retain the lists so that
they can be made available should there be a requirement to re-open the
investigation,
Approved For Release 2006/12/05: CIA-RDP77M00144R000600070042-6