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OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25. D.C.
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MAR cd 1965
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Dear hir. Chairman:
In your letter ef March 19, 1959, referring to headlines in iths
Vasbingten Post of taat date concerning hish altitude atomic me
you asked that I sdvise you concerning the circumstances he
te
the release of the informaties contained therain, when it was
declassified and by whem, and the rezsoa for the manner in whi; Ph
it wes released.
You asked eiso that I inform you why the Jeint
Coznmittee was not notified in ecvanc: of the releases.
As linformed yeur Cammittec ou January 19, 2959, discussions
were in pregrese at that time as tc the advisability of declassify ag
these aspects of the ARCUS experiment which weve primarily of zctenfie interest end that decizion hac been reached te withhold sach action
until the scientific group etedyimg the results of the cperation hs BR aubmitted {te report. This report has not yet boen received by the
Depsrtment of Defense; consequeanny, as of March 18 no action Had
been t2ken with reapect te the declacsification of any aspects of the
ARGUS operation.
You will recall that I informed your Committee during the
hearing ef January 19th that the Department of Defense had rene tw
believe that scme elerments of the preat were eware of the oper tien
and its mature. At about 5:60 P.M. om March 18th the Dlrecter,
Advanced Research Projects Agency, was advised by « te
fron: @ representative of the New York Times that a stary af the
ARGUS operation would appear in the Times the fellowing m
The Director advised the caller that all aspects of the operation
still classified anc strongly uzged that no information reletive
thereto be published, He then informed the Doputy Secretary of
eall
were
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