Letters, statements, etc.-Continued Excerpt from memorandum.. Page 997, 1001 Recommended change in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954- Moss, Hon. John E., a Representative in Congress from the State of California, and chairman, Special Subcommittee on Government Excerpt from memorandum issued by the Secretary of Defense, to the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, March 29, Excerpt from statement of Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner, in hearings held 1080, 1091 Excerpt from statement of Lt. Gen. Floyd L. Parks___ Parks, Lt. Gen. Floyd L., United States Army (retired), executive Excerpt from Regulation SR 360-45-5, December 10, 1951---- Ross, Hon. Robert Tripp, Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative 1039 1077 1078 Excerpt from a press statement issued by Hon. Carl Vinson, chair- man, Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Excerpt from a report to the Commission on Organization of the Executive Branch of the Government by the Committee on the National Security Organization, volume III, November 15, 1948--- Excerpt from Executive Order No. 10501_. Excerpt from House Report 680, 83d Congress, June 27, 1953 931, Excerpt of directive from Secretary Wilson, March 29, 1955.. Excerpt of letter from the Office of Assistant Secretary Ross, 931 1019 1008 930 930 List of press conferences held by Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson from July 1, 1954, to July 1, 1955--- List of press conferences held by Secretary of Defense Robert A. Lovett from September 1951, to January 1953- Schooley, C. Herschel, Director of Public Information, Department Excerpt of memorandum re the story of the Indianapolis, June 6, 989 Exhibit I.-Department of Defense Directive No. 5230.9,dated March 29, 1955. Subject: Clearance of Department of Defense public information_ Exhibit II. Department of Defense Directive No. 5200.6, dated June 1, 1954. Subject: Policy governing the custody, use, and preservation of Department of Defense official information not within the purview of Exhibit III. Memorandum dated March 29, 1955, from the Secretary of Defense to the Secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Subject: Department of Defense public information activities. Exhibit IV. Department of Defense Directive No. 5122.5, dated July 30, 1954. Subject: Responsibilities of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Legislative and Public Affairs). Exhibit V. Department of Defense Directive No. 5200.7, dated July 15, 1954. Subject: Policy governing the transmission and safekeeping of defense information classified "Confidential-Modified Handling Author- Exhibit VI. Minutes of press conference held by Hon. Charles E. Wilson, Tuesday, April 12, 1955, 3 p. m., the Pentagon, Washington, D. C....... Exhibit VII. Correspondence between Subcommittee Chairman John E. Moss and Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas, regarding the designation "Private-Official". Exhibit VIII. Department of Defense telephone directory cover page Exhibit IX. Correspondence between Subcommittee Chairman John E. Moss and Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Tripp Ross, regarding AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AGENCIES Part 5-Department of Defense, First Section MONDAY, JULY 9, 1956 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT INFORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 10 o'clock, a. m., in room 362, Old House Office Building, Hon. John E. Moss (chairman) presiding. Mr. Moss. The subcommittee will be in order. I have a statement that I would like to read at this time. The Government Information Subcommittee began a study of the Defense Department's information activities soon after the subcommittee was chartered in June 1955. This continuing study, which was carried out by the subcommittee staff in cooperation with representatives of the Department, has been intensified in recent weeks in preparation for the subcommittee's hearings with the Defense Department. The study included the collection of complaints that the Department has restricted information from the public or Congress wihout necessity or justification; that some information released by the Department was twisted to express a particular viewpoint and that the Department has been following other information practices which restrict or channel the flow of information to the public and to Congress. These complaints came from newspaper organizations, reporters and columnists, from witnesses testifying at earlier subcommittee hearings and from other sources. The staff study was carried out in close cooperation with Defense Department officials, particularly in the field of information classified for security reasons. The subcommittee has never had any intention of matching its judgment on presently classified material against the judgment of security officials in the Pentagon. It is, however, interested in the judgment exercised in the past, as revealed by material subsequently declassified, and in the policies and practices currently being followed by Defense Department officials engaged in the classification of material. In general, the staff study covered the following areas: (1) Whether the Defense Department is following the provisions of Executive Order 10501 which state that a person classifying a document should note on the document that it may be downgraded or declassified after a certain event or date or upon removal of classified enclosures. (2) Whether there is variation in classification procedures between agencies within the Defense Department. (3) Whether there is variations among offices within the Defense Department in applying need-to-know standards for granting access to classified documents. (4) Whether there is variations between the Department of Defense offices in the practice of segregating "pure" scientific information from scientific facts of military application. (5) Whether procedures for security review of material submitted to the Department by magazine writers and reporters are uniform for all persons. (6) Whether the removal of the "restricted" category of securityclassified information by Executive Order 10501 freed more information or resulted in the development of numerous other terms to define information which is withheld. (7) Whether the Department's practices and policies restricting information are based on clear legal authority for their establishment. (8) Whether Secretary Wilson's order that all information released by the Defense Department constitutes a "constructive contribution" is still being followed and the practical effects of that order. (9) Whether Secretary Wilson's memorandum of March 29, 1955, suggesting a sweeping reorganization of the Defense Department's public information activities, has been implemented, and whether the Department's present information organization is operating satisfactorily. Various instances detailing the general restrictive practices about which there have been complaints are to be discussed during this series of hearings with the Defense Department. The hearings will serve as a basis for recommendations to remove any unnecessary restrictions on information and help improve the flow of information to the public and to Congress. I would like to add this observation: This committee is most anxious to cooperate fully with the officials of the Department of Defense in developing the facts necessary for us to arrive at conclusions and recommendations that will be helpful to the Congress. We have deferred to the request of the Secretary of Defense and the various service Secretaries that they be permitted to send substitutes to the extent that substitutes appearing on their behalf are in a position to give us the information we desire and need. We will continue to work in that way. Should it become necessary at any time, however, for the committee to seek the appearance of the Secretary or the service Secretaries in order fully to develop the facts in connection with its assignnment, we will at that time insist upon the appearance of those individuals. Mr. Hoffman, do you have any question? Mr. HOFFMAN. Only in view of your statement, I would like to have the names of those who made complaints, with a concise statement of the particulars of the complaint and the date when it was made. Mr. Moss. You have the complaints in front of you, I believe, at the present time and any additional items which you feel you require will be made available to you by the staff. |