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General K. E.
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Captain Willian L. Outhrie, USK

DMA POSITION REGARDING MAIL CENSORSHIP POR CASTLE
SYMBOL: MAR: HDG

Facts Bearing on the Problem:

Pis piolainied Ly law.

During IVY numerous security violations occurred when Task Force

personnel wrote and dispatched to the United States personal

letters containing classified information.

The resulting publicity

ran counter to the policy established by the Paychological Strategy
Board and created much speculation in the press. As a result of
these security violations, it has been suggested that censorship
should be imposed during CASTLE. We have learned informally that
the Division ef Security may undertake in a Commission paper to
establish an AEC position in this matter.
General Clarkson has recommended to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
that censorship not be imposed, but that security instruction be
improved and public releases be increased.
To this date mail censorship has not been applied in the Korean

combat sone.

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If eompulsory censorship of personal mail were imposed under

existing legislation, it could be applied only to military persomel.

Since mail censership that excluded civilian personnel would be ineffective, new legislation would have to be enacted if mail oanaor-

ship were to be worthuhile. If over-all censorship were applied,
it would require that the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory: personnel, who
have ascess to "Restricted Data” at all times, be required to submit
to eensorship only when et the Pacific Proving Grounds.

Such a

eondition would adversely affect their morale. In addition, contractor personnel might rebel at the idea of censorship and thereby
ereate a prodles in labor recruitment. There is also the feeling
that the erganisation required for censoring mail would increase
personnel requirements and everload existing facilities which will

be overtaxed even without these extra people.

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