[1]42D BO eee
[2]1704-10330-10102 494.2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[4]SECRET
[5]CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
[6]WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
[8]EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[10]The Honorable John Raymond Tunheim
[11]Chairman °
[12]Assassination Records
[13]# Review Board
[14]600 E. Street N.W.
[15]Washington, D.C.
[17]Dear Judge Tunheim:
[19](C) I have just received informal word of the
[20]decisions the JFK Board made at its 17 November 1997
[21]meeting. Most of the Board's decisions--those relating to
[22]the CIA presence din Warrenton? CIA’s involvement.in various
[23]non-governmental organizations, and the details of CIA
[24]funding of the Cuban Revolutionary Council--are very
[25]welcome... I must, however, urge the Board to reconsider its
[26]decision to release décuments_in.a form that would reveal
[28]‘the Agency’ ‘Ss use of State Department cover J
[30](C) We stand behind the position that we have
[31]presented in writing and in discussions with the Board on
[32]previous occasions. I would welcome an opportunity to have
[33]a senior CIA representative meet with the Board at your
[34]convenience to explain why the Agency considers this
[35]information so sensitive and to answer any questions you may
[36]have. Meanwhile, I offer the following summary of our
[37]fundamental concerns.
[39](S) Effective official cover is necessary to enable 7
[40]< our” officers to work overseas in often hostile and volatile’
[41]environments. | Official cover also enables the Agency ‘to 4
[42]« conduct its business with allied liaison services in :
[43]“countries where host governments would find it politically
[44]\ unacceptable to acknowledge a cooperative relationship with,’
[45]the Central Intelligence Agency. In all such settings, f
[47]“State Department cover is critically important because its
[49]cuse affords our officers the rights and privileges set forth
[51]‘.in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular oe
[52]‘Immunity~-~diplomatic immunity, in particular. Indeed, the >
[53]effectiveness of the Agency's use of State Department cover »
[55]7
[57]CL BY: \" 2217297
[58]CL REASON: 1.5 (c)
[59]DECL ON: XL
[61]DRV FROM: COV 2-87
[63]SECRET
[66]13- 0008. Fe. A990 12: S2PM |
[68]NO. 226 en, .P»3.,
[72]Judge Tunheim
[74]clearly illustrates the purpose ‘behind the Director's - ;
[75]’ statutory obligation to protect intelligence methods from, f
[76]unnecessary and inappropriate disclosure. a . ae
[78]= (S} No “other cover mechanism Gan provide our. officers
[80]the™ opérational utility and personal security that ‘State
[81](Department cover does. Achieving effective -cover,requires >
[82]_ that our officers be fully iritegratéd into ‘State’ ‘Department ~/
[83]b entities, - offices, and functions. our officers are"
[85]““youtinely -assigned State Department duties to make. it. ‘harder ;
[86]for hostile services and others who might. try to: ‘ hatm ox .
[88]- expose our ‘officers to identify them.as Agency emp1é Byes. TY
[89]Official acknowledgment of even the fact of Agency. fuige of ,
[90](State Department cover would increase dramatically: ‘the risks
[91]{that both Agency officers and our State Department / © -
[92]‘ colleagues encounter’ in serving us interests around the.
[93]“world. -~ Ltd
[95]2
[97](S) (State 1 Department cover ‘continues to. be. san .
[98]important intelligende ‘method, “Its use is undiminished
[99]Since the 1960s, and it will remain essential for: ‘the .
[100]foreseeable future. I urge the Board to_: reconsider - its -
[101]recent decision insofar as it concerns the Agency’ gs use of)
[103]State Department. cover }. In this regard,. we willbe ~
[105]s forwarding: a more comprehensive memorandum’ addréssing the
[106]damage issue prior to the next Board meeting, and we would
[107]also like to offer the Board the opportunity. for-a personal
[108]appearance by a senior CIA representative should that be’
[110]appropriate.
[111]Sincerely,:. .
[112]4 :
[113]_ David W. Carey YJ. * 5%
[114]2
[115]ge ;
[117]- SECRET " rs