Space and Telecommunications
103. Telegram 599 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram summarized private and informal Soviet positions on Direct Broadcast Satellite issues being negotiated at the Legal Sub-Committee meeting of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential; Immediate. Repeated for information to Moscow and NASA.
104. Telegram 703 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram summarized an initiative to define outer space proposed at the Legal Sub-Committee meeting of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated for information to Paris and Moscow.
105. Telegram 734 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram assessed the results of the recently completed session of the Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated for information to Paris, London, and Moscow. William E. Schaufle, Jr. was Deputy U.S. Representative to the United Nations.
106. Action Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs (Buffum), the Legal Adviser (Leigh), and the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, (Ray) to the Deputy Secretary of State (Ingersoll)
The memorandum recommended sending a delegation to selected African and Asian countries to advocate the U.S. position on remote sensing.
Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 59, L/OA Files: Lot 99 D 369, Space—Remote Sensing—1975. Confidential. Drafted by Stowe; and concurred in by IO, OES/SCI/SA, S/P, AF/W, AF/E, NEA/EGY, NEA/IRN, NEA/PAB, EA/IMS, AF/C, NEA/INS. Sisco approved the recommendation on April 16. On the memorandum is written, “JJS [Sisco] believes this need not go to D. He has signed letter to Fletcher.” Attached but not published at Tab A is an undated memorandum from Sisco to Fletcher, urging NASA to cooperate in the proposed mission. Attached but not published at Tab B is a list citing Zaire, Nigeria, Kenya, Sudan, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Indonesia as the key African and Asian countries requiring bilateral consultations and noting that Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Venezuela comprised the Latin American members of the Outer Space Committee. Attached but not published at Tab C is UN document A/AC.105/C.2/L. 103 of February 19. Attached but not published at Tab D is an April 11 memorandum from Hewson A. Ryan of ARA to Leigh. It recommended high-level negotiations with Brazilian and Argentinean officials before sending a delegation to African and Asian countries.
107. National Security Council Under Secretaries Decision Memorandum 8A
The memorandum recommended allowing the 1969 U.S.-Japan Space Cooperation Agreement to run its course in order to avoid transferring more advanced technologies to Japanese recipients.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 61, NSDM 306, U.S.-Japan Space Cooperation. Confidential. The attachment was not found.
108. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Clements) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
[10 pages not declassified in time for publication.]
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 72, NSC–U/SM–157. Top Secret.
109. National Security Decision Memorandum 296
President Ford directed further measures to improve telecommunications security.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, National Security Decision Memoranda and Study Memoranda, Box 1. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent to the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of State, the Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, and the Administrator of the General Services Administration. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger. Copies were also sent to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Director of the National Security Agency. NSDM 266 is published as Document 97.
110. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–134 from the Chairman of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll) to President Ford
Ingersoll summarized differing positions between several government agencies concerning public release of GEOS–3 data.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 15, SRG Meeting, GEOS–3 Data, December 16, 1975. Secret. The full report has not been found.
111. Telegram 3110 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The telegram summarized the results of the 1975 UN Outer Space Committee session.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential. Repeated for information to Brasilia, Buenos Aires, London, Moscow, New Delhi, Ottawa, and Paris.
112. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Chairman of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll)
Kissinger instructed the Under Secretaries Committee to create an interagency Standing Committee on Space Policy to address potential issues of conflict between civil and military space operations.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 72, NSC–U/SM–157, Standing Committee on Space Policy. Top Secret; Codeword. Forwarded as NSC–U/SM–157 on July 2 by Gathright to the Secretary of Defense, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the President’s Science Adviser, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.
113. Memorandum of Conversation Between the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board
The Board discussed measures to counteract Soviet electronic surveillance of U.S. domestic telephone communications.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Memoranda of Conversations 1973–1977, Box 14, August 8, 1975. Top Secret. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room of the White House.
114. Memorandum NSC–U/DM–92B From the Chairman of the NSC Under Secretaries Committee (Ingersoll) to President Ford
The memorandum recommended clarification of U.S. policies for providing space launching services for other countries.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, EB/OTA/TD Files: Lot 78 D 237, NSDM 187, 1972–. Limited Official Use. Forwarded on August 8 by Gathright to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, the Director of Central Intelligence, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Acting Director of the Office of Telecommunications Policy, and the Executive Director of the Council on International Economic Policy. The attachment has not been found.
115. National Security Decision Memorandum 306
Kissinger directed that advanced space-related technologies should not be transferred to Japanese recipients.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, National Security Decision Memoranda and Study Memoranda, Box 1, NSDM 306. Confidential. Scowcroft signed for Kissinger above Kissinger’s typed signature. Copies were sent to the Director of Central Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Under Secretaries Committee study is Document 107.
116. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), Director of Central Intelligence Colby, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (Lynn) to Secretary of Interior Hathaway
Kissinger, Colby, and Lynn directed the establishment of a committee to review the civil applications of classified overhead photography of domestic sites.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject File, Box 1, Committee for Civil Applications of Classified Overhead Photography of the U.S. Secret. Also sent to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Commerce, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Chief of Engineers of the U.S. Army.
117. Action Memorandum From the Chairman of the Working Group of the Standing Committee on Space Policy (Sloss) to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Space Policy (Sisco)
Sloss outlined the principal issues facing the Standing Committee on Space Policy and recommended convening a meeting of the Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P860117–2078. Secret; Noforn. Drafted on October 16 by Sloss; and cleared by Gathright. Sent through Vest. Sisco approved a meeting at 11 a.m. on November 18. Tabs 1 and 2 have not been found.
118. Action Memorandum From the Chairman of the Working Group of the Standing Committee on Space Policy (Sloss) to the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Space Policy (Sisco)
Sloss summarized and analyzed a meeting among members of the Standing Committee on Space Policy.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P860117–1558. Secret; Noforn. Drafted by Sloss; cleared by Gathright. Sisco initialed his approval for a meeting on December 16, but a note written in an unknown hand indicates “meeting cancelled at the last minute.”
119. Memorandum From David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Elliott outlined inter-agency disagreements to aid Scowcroft’s preparation for a Senior Review Group meeting concerning public release of certain GEOS–3 data.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 15, SRG Meeting, GEOS–3 Data, December 16, 1975. Secret. Attached but not published at Tab A is an undated NSC Under Secretaries Committee Report of the Ad Hoc Interagency Working Group on Release of GEOS–3 Data. Tab C, attached but not published, circulated Tab A as NSC–U/DM–134, dated May 30. Tab B, the GEOS–3 Data Handling, is published here. Secret; Noforn.
120. Minutes of the Senior Review Group Meeting
Senior Review Group members discussed policy-related concerns with regard to public release of GEOS–3 data.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 24, Meeting Minutes, SRG Originals, December 1975. Top Secret; Codeword.
121. Memorandum From David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Elliott outlined inter-agency disagreements to aid Scowcroft’s preparation for a meeting designed to forge a unified position on support for the AEROSAT program.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject Files, Box 1, Communications (2). Confidential. Sent for action. Attached but not published at Tab A are the undated talking points for Scowcroft. Attached but not published are Tabs B through D. Tab B is a January 9 memorandum from Barnum to Lynn and Scowcroft that recommended affirming U.S. commitments to the development of AEROSAT. Tab C is the December 11, 1975 memorandum from Ingersoll to Coleman that advocated proceeding with AEROSAT funding to avoid international diplomatic complications. Tab D is the January 9 memorandum from Egers to Kissinger that registered several objections to concluding AEROSAT and INMARSAT negotiations.
122. Memorandum From David Elliott of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)
Scowcroft accepted Elliott’s recommendation to send a letter to the Office of Telecommunications Policy to clarify administration policy about participation in AEROSAT.
Source: Ford Library, White House Central Files, Subject Files 1974–1977, Box 16, UT 1, 8/1/75–1/20/77. Confidential. Sent for action. Copies of Scowcroft’s letter were sent to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Deputy Secretary of Transportation, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Deputy Secretary of State. Attached but not published at Tab B is a January 20 memorandum from Egers to Scowcroft that advocated a joint administrative system for AEROSAT and INMARSAT. Attached but not published at Tab C is a January 9 memorandum from Egers to Kissinger that registered several objections to concluding AEROSAT and INMARSAT negotiations.
123. Memorandum From the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (Hyland) to Director of Central Intelligence Bush
Hyland explained the rationale behind his request that Bush conduct an assessment of the damage resulting from Soviet telecommunications intercepts.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential Subject Files, Box 1, Communications (2). Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and the Director of the National Security Agency. At the bottom of the last page, Hyland wrote, “George, I’m not sure CIA is real action agency, but Intelligence Community as a whole should be involved.”
124. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Scowcroft updated Ford on the status of measures to decrease the vulnerability of U.S. satellites to attack.
Source: Ford Library, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Files, Box 22, Satellite Vulnerability (3/15/76). Secret; Sensitive. Ford initialed the document, indicating that he had read it.
125. Action Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Saunders) to Secretary of State Kissinger
The memorandum noted the arguments for and against declassification of the “fact of” photo-satellite reconnaissance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P770109–0570. Secret; Noforn. Drafted by Saunders and Deputy Director of the Office of Resources Policy William P. Deary; and cleared by Sisco. A covering note of the same date indicates that the memorandum was not submitted to Kissinger, but that Sisco approved declassification (option 1). Attached but not published is a Draft Memo from Bill McAfee to Frank Wisner.
126. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Scowcroft informed Ford about the status of efforts to counteract Soviet anti-satellite capabilities.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 38, 7602528. Top Secret. Sent for information. Ford initialed the document. Tab A has not been found.
127. Telegram 2755 From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State
The Mission communicated the delegation’s appraisal of the 1976 session of the UN Outer Space Committee.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files. Confidential.
128. National Security Decision Memorandum 333
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Brent Scowcroft outlined policy objectives for enhancing the survivability of U.S. space assets and ordered development of an action plan.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Presidential File of NSC Logged Documents, Box 38, 7602528. Top Secret. Copies were sent to the Secretary of State, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
129. Memorandum From Acting Director of the National Reconnaissance Office to the Committee on Foreign Intelligence
This memorandum circulates a proposed statement of policy for consideration. The proposal maintains an independence capacity to launch satellites with expendable vehicles during the initial stages of Space Shuttle operation.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 79M00467A, Executive Registry Files (OPI 10), Space Policy Interface 64 010176–311276. Top Secret; Codeword.
130. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Ford
Scowcroft elaborated on the need for, and prospects of creating, a functional U.S. anti-satellite capability.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 66, NSDM 333 (4). Top Secret; Codeword. Tab A has not been found.
131. Action Memorandum from the Deputy Coordinator for Security Assistance (Vest) and the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Saunders) to Secretary of State Kissinger
The memorandum updated Kissinger on agency positions concerning declassification of “fact of” U.S. satellite reconnaissance.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy Files, P760125–0140. Secret. Drafted on July 22 by James J. Hitchcock (INR/DDC) and Assistant Deputy Director Emerson M. Brown. Sent through Habib. Notations in an unknown hand indicated Kissinger read the memo on August 8, and agreed to a meeting on August 16 at 3:30, but that the date and time of the meeting were “very tentative.”
132. National Security Decision Memorandum 338
President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Brent Scowcroft directed development of an action plan to protect the privacy of all users of public telecommunications.
Source: Ford Library, National Security Council, Institutional Files, Box 67, NSDM 338, Further Improvements in Telecommunications Security (1). Top Secret; Sensitive. Copies were sent to the Secretary of State, the Director of Central Intelligence, and the Director of the National Security Agency.