[1]12
[2]104-10326-10031
[4]‘(2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992],
[8]SECRET
[9]MHFNO: 97-7161666 SENSIND: PAGE 1
[10]/ f SECRET FRP: ,,,,,,,
[11]STAFF
[13]on - woe ~ 7 — . Tom se . oo wee
[15]CONF: C/occ INFO: DC/occ, EUR/GA, EUR/LGL, LIMITED, MDSX, 7
[16]/OGDORECORD, ODPD, FILE (a/P) ° .
[18]97 7161666 ASP PAGE 001
[20]TOT: 0700232 MAR 97 DIRECTOR 258926
[21]‘SECRET
[23]S|PAFF 070023Z DIRECTOR 258926
[24]' TO: PRIORITY BONN.
[25]| FROM: LIMITED DISSEM CHIEF/OCC INFO EUR/GA, EUR/LGL
[27]i)
[29]SLUGS: WNINTEL
[31]Oe ee oe Be J
[32]\ SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR STATION ASSISTANCE f
[34]REF: NONE.
[36]TEXT:
[38]1. ACTION REQUIRED: REQUEST STATION CONTACT FORMER EMPLOYEE
[39]WHO RETIRED UNDER COVER AND RESIDES IN {(WACHTBERG> PECH:.
[40]* 2. IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THRE PRESIDENT<JFK ASSASSINATION>
[41]RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992, HOS REQUESTS STATION’ 3) ASSISTANCE .
[42]IN DELIVERING THE INFORMATION BELOW TO IDEN. :
[44]4 MARCH 1997 '
[45]DEAR COLLEAGUE:
[47]PLEASE BE AWARE THAT YOUR NAME APPEARS IN DOCUMENTS THAT ARE
[48]BEING REVIEWED FOR RELEASE TO THE PUBLIC UNDER PUBLIC LAW 102-526
[49]*OF 26 OCTOBER 1992, THE PRESIDENT<JOHN>F. <KENNEDY ASSASSINATION>
[50]RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992. THIS MANDATES THE PUBLIC RELEASE
[51]OF ALL INFORMATION IN THESE DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING YOUR NAME WHERE
[52]IT APPEARS, UNLESS THE ORIGINATING AGENCY CAN PROVE BY CLEAR AND r
[53]CONVINCING EVIDENCE TO A PRESIDENTIALLY-APPOINTED BOARD THAT ONE ,
[54]OR MORE LIMITED EXCEPTIONS APPLY. EVEN THEN, THE RELEASE OF THE
[55]INFORMATION MAY ONLY BE POSTPONED FOR NO MORE THAN 25 YEARS.
[56]THOSE EXCEPTIONS AS THEY APPEAR IN THE ACT FOLLOW. THE ACT Is
[57]VERY PRO-RELEASE AND REQUIRES A BALANCING OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST,
[59]UNDER THE BOARD’S INTERPRETATION OF THE ACT, YOUR NAME CANNOT
[60]BE REDACTED FROM THE DOCUMENTS TO BE RELEASED UNLESS WE CAN
[62]YOU PERSONALLY, YOUR FAMILY, OR ANY SENSITIVE ACTIVITY OR
[64]SECRET
[67]MHFNO: 97-7161666 SENSIND: PAGE: 2
[69]R. 1-800-447-2211 1 OR VIA LETTER
[71]- COMPELLING CASE CAN BE. PRESENTED TO THE BOARD. (SEE FOLLOWING
[72]GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OR RECORDS.) IF THE
[73]BOARD ORDERS THE RELEASE OF YOUR NAME, ITS RULING.CAN BE REVERSED
[74]ONLY BY THE PRESIDENT. BECAUSE THE BOARD MUST COVER HUNDREDS OF
[75]THOUSANDS OF DOCUMENTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, IT WILL BE
[76]CONSIDERING DOCUMENTS AT AN ACCELERATING PACE AND WE CANNOT
[77]PROJECT WHEN IT MAY REVIEW A DOCUMENT CONTAINING YOUR NAME.
[78]THEREFORE, PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF APPROPRIATE.
[80]SINCERELY, :
[81](SIGNED
[83]FOLLOWS ARE THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF
[84]RECORDS :
[86]*DISCLOSURE OF<ASSASSINATION>RECORDS OR PARTICULAR INFORMATION IN
[87]*<ASSASSINATION>RECORDS TO THE PUBLIC MAY BE POSTPONED SUBJECT TO
[89]‘THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS ACT IF THERE IS CLEAR AND CONVINCING
[90]EVIDENCE THAT-- ,
[92]' (1) THE THREAT TO THE MILITARY DEFENSE, INTELLIGENCE
[93]OPERATIONS, OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES
[94]*POSED BY THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>IS OF SUCH
[95]GRAVITY THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST, AND SUCH PUBLIC
[96]DISCLOSURE .WOULD REVEAL--
[98](A) AN INTELLIGENCE AGENT WHOSE IDENTITY CURRENTLY REQUIRES
[99]PROTECTION
[101](B) AN INTELLIGENCE SOURCE OR METHOD WHICH IS CURRENTLY
[102]UTILIZED,
[104]. BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT AND WHICH HAS NOT BEEN
[106]OFFICIALLY
[108]: DISCLOSED, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE
[109]CONDUCT OF INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES; OR
[111](C) ANY OTHER MATTER CURRENTLY RELATING TO THE MILITARY
[112]DEFENSE,
[114]INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS OR CONDUCT OF FOREIGN RELATIONS OF
[115]THE
[117]UNITED STATES, THE DISCLOSURE OF WHICH WOULD DEMONSTRABLY
[118]IMPAIR
[120]THE NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES.
[122]* (2) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
[123]REVEAL THE NAME OR IDENTITY OF A LIVING PERSON WHO PROVIDED
[124]CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION TO THE UNITED STATES AND WOULD POSE A
[125]SUBSTANTIAL RISK TO THAT PERSON;
[127]* (3) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD COULD
[128]REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CONSTITUTE AN UNWARRANTED INVASION OF
[129]: SECRET
[132]MHFNO: 97-7161666 SENSIND: PAGE: 3
[133]PERSONAL PRIVACY, AND THAT INVASION OF PRIVACY IS SO SUBSTANTIAL
[134]THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST;
[136]* (4) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
[137]COMPROMISE THE EXISTENCE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF CONFIDENTIALITY
[138]CURRENTLY REQUIRING PROTECTION BETWEEN A GOVERNMENT AGENT AND A
[139]COOPERATING INDIVIDUAL OR A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, AND PUBLIC
[141]_ DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SO HARMFUL THAT IT OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC
[142]INTEREST; OR.
[144]* (5) THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE<ASSASSINATION>RECORD WOULD
[145]REVEAL A SECURITY OR PROTECTIVE PROCEDURE CURRENTLY UTILIZED, OR
[146]REASONABLY EXPECTED TO BE UTILIZED, BY THE SECRET SERVICE OR
[147]ANOTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING GOVERNMENT
[148]_OFFICIALS, AND PUBLIC DISCLOSURE WOULD BE SO HARMFUL THAT IT
[149]OUTWEIGHS THE PUBLIC INTEREST. ~
[151]3. IF STATION \WANTS, YOU MAY OFFER IDEN THE POSSIBILITY OF
[153]COMMUNICATING WITH HEADQUARTERS VIA RATHER THAN BY
[154]TELEPHONE OR LETTER. IN MANY CASES THE RESPONSE CONTAINS
[155]SENSITIVE IF NOT CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. ALL PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
[156]OF THIS LETTER HAVE HAD CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS; FOLLOWING ARE
[157]ANSWERS TO SOME OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
[159]*A. WHY IS MY NAME IN THE<JFK ASSASSINATION>RECORDS?
[161]WE DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY BUT YOUR NAME MAY HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN A
[162]CABLE OR DOCUMENT, OR YOU MAY HAVE COORDINATED OR SIGNED A CABLE
[163]*OR DOCUMENT WITH REFERENCE TO THE<ASSASSINATION.> |
[165]B. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
[167]IT MEANS YOUR NAME WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC RELEASE OF ALL
[168]*DOCUMENTS PERTINENT TO THE<ASSASSINATION.> THE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN
[169]RELEASED TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
[170](NARA) WITH THE NAME REMOVED AND IF WE DO NOT MAKE A COMPELLING
[171]CASE THE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD WILL RELEASE NEW VERSIONS OF THE
[172]DOCUMENTS WITH THE NAMES. THE FIRST REVIEW OF NAMES WILL BE THIS
[173]SUMMER AND IT WILL CONTINUE AS DOCUMENTS ARE REVIEWED. ONCE THE
[174]BOARD RULES THE DOCUMENTS IN QUESTION MUST BE RELEASED IN 30 DAYS.
[176]C. WHAT EXACTLY DOES "RELEASE" MEAN?
[178]IT MEANS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE DOCUMENT VIA
[179]NARA. THERE ARE PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS WAITING FOR ACCESS TO
[180]THE MATERIAL SO THAT THEY CAN RESEARCH THE VARIOUS CONSPIRACY
[181]THEORIES. WE KNOW OF SOME ORGANIZATIONS THAT WILL MOST LIKELY PUT
[182]THE INFORMATION IN COMPUTER SYSTEMS SO IT CAN BE EASILY SEARCHED.
[184]D. WHAT IF I DON’T WANT MY NAME RELEASED?
[186]YOU AND WE WILL HAVE TO CONVINCE THE PRESIDENTIALLY APPOINTED
[188]REVIEW BOARD THAT YOUR SITUATION MEETS THE CRITERIA PROVIDED IN
[190]THE GROUNDS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS. (TO
[192]BE ABSOLUTELY FRANK, THIS IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO DO AND THE
[194]VERY FEW CASES WHICH WE HAVE WON HAVE BEEN BASED ON VERY SPECIFIC
[195]SECRET
[200]13-00000
[202]SECRET
[203]MHFNO: 97-7161666 SENSIND:
[205]E. WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
[207]IF RELEASE OF YOUR NAME IS NOT A PROBLEM, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO
[208]ANYTHING. IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR NAME RELEASED, YOU NEED TO
[209]ADVISE US OF THAT FACT AND EXPLAIN IN DETAIL WHY RELEASE WOULD BE
[210]HARMFUL TO YOU AND NATIONAL SECURITY. WE HAVE FOUGHT AGAINST
[211]RELEASE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE COVER MECHANISM WITHOUT SUCCESS TO
[212]DATE, AND WE WILL CONTINUE THE EFFORT. THE BOARD HAS NOT BEEN AND
[213]IS NOT LIKELY TO BECOME SYMPATHETIC TO A PRINCIPLE BASED
[215]ARGUMENT .
[217]PF. IF MY NAME IS RELEASED, WHAT ABOUT MY COVER STATUS?
[218]THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF YOUR TRUE NAME
[219]AND THE AGENCY WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT CAREFULLY TO DETERMINE
[220]THE VIABILITY_OF CONTINUED COVER PROTECTION. oo
[222]jFILE: NONE. CL BY: 2224018," Cl REASON: ~“i.5(c), DECL ON:
[223]fX1>"DRV FROM: | HUM 4-82. : ° yo]
[224]|CABLETYPE: GECO STAFF 4.0.1.> '
[225].RELNO: DORELS0100640333 co eee Le ee
[226],ORIG: CHIEF /OCC(WILLMSC,.32357); AUTH: DC/OCC; COORD: EUR/LGL
[227]\ (CRAWFORD) 7“ REL: EUR/GA (BERLIN). 9 9 ~~ -
[229]Te ne ~-
[231]END OF MESSAGE SECRET
[233]SECRET