◆ SpookStack

"(4) I n accordance with t h e exc2gtion provided f o r I n paragraph 7 of NSC 5412/2, the standard pro- cedure set f o r t h above e h a l l not sppl:: t o thz case of a particularly s e n s i t i v e project w!!ich relates exclusively t o U.S. foreign policy and wMch does not Involve nllitary implications. I n such CRW, approval of such project by the Secretary of S t a t e s h a l l constitute both s u f f i c l e n t authorization f9r I n i t i a t i o n of, the project by the Eireztor of Central Intelligence and policy approval therjfor. The Director of Central Intelljgence s h a l l report any such exce t i o n (wjthout i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ) t o $he NSC 5412, 7 2 Group.*" "*In approving the above recommendations, the President d i r e c t e d t h a t whenever the Secretary of State takes action under this paragrsp3, he s h a l l inform t h e President .'' The above quoted procedures were reviewed by t h e Chairman of Ithe President's Board of Consultants on Foreign Intellisence A c t i v i t i e s p r i o r to.submiss1on t o the President. He d i d not concur the'rein because they s h i f t e d somewhat away from the 3oard's concept of "real j o i n t staffing" of covert projects by the Special NSC 5412/2 Group prior t o final Group consideration of such projects. I I n its t h i r d written report t o the Prcsident of October 39, 1958, the President's Board of Consultants on Foreign Intelligegce A c t i v i t i e s (then consisting of Chairman Hull, Conolly, Darden, Doolittle, Fairless, K i l l i a n , Lovett and Rjerson) made the following comments and recommendations r e l a t l n g t o covert operations: I "We understand that t h e personal circumstances of the Head of the P l a n s Grcup (Clandestine Services Element) of the C I A are such that h i s early replacement w i l l be re- quired. We believe t h a t t h i s unfortunate situatrori high- l i g h t s t h e necessity f o r reviewing, and perhaps recasting, some of t h e v i r t u a l l y autonomous functions presently assigned t o t h i s Group. .Under the terms of its present mission, t h e Plans Group of t h e Agency, as you kntw, is responsible for the supervision and ac7mlnistration of all clandestine activit.ies (of t h e Agenes) including t h e planning, execution and review of t h e ;nission entrusted t o the Director ur.der the directives of tke NSC. i I +&. . I I I I