CIA Letter to Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner on Declassification of the Robertson Panel UFO Report
This CIA document is a letter to Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner regarding the report of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects, convened in January 1953 and chaired by Dr. H. P. Robertson, with members Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, Thornton Page, and Berkner. The panel reached two conclusions and made two recommendations included as Tab A of its report. The letter states that the Air Force had requested declassification of the report's conclusions for use in the press. The author, Deputy Assistant Director Philip G. Strong, reports that he, Dr. Robertson, and Dr. Goudsmit agree that the conclusion in paragraph 2 and the recommendation in paragraph 4a could be declassified, but that they and the Agency would not agree to declassify the conclusion in paragraph 3 or the recommendation in paragraph 4b. Strong emphasizes that the panel's association with the CIA should not be disclosed, that paragraph 1 could be rewritten to eliminate this connection, and that the final six lines of paragraph 4 could stand as written. He notes the Air Force indicated the panel members' names would be used only within official circles, not given to the press, though such information tends to filter out and could become common knowledge. Strong asks Berkner for his reaction to the Air Force declassification proposals and whether he would approve use of his name, provided the Agency connection is withheld. A Secret report was enclosed.
Description
A CIA letter (draft and final versions) addressed to Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner, President of Associated Universities, Incorporated, concerning an Air Force request to declassify certain conclusions and recommendations of the January 1953 Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects (the Robertson Panel). The author, Deputy Assistant Director Philip G. Strong, seeks Berkner's reaction to limited declassification and the possible public use of the panel members' names, while insisting the panel's association with the CIA remain undisclosed.
Claims
A Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects was constituted in January 1953 with H.P. Robertson as chairman and Samuel Goudsmit, Luis W. Alvarez, Thornton Page, and Lloyd V. Berkner as members.
100%The Air Force requested that the Panel's report conclusions be declassified for use in the press.
92%The CIA insisted that its association with the Panel not be disclosed and that certain conclusions (paragraph 3) and recommendations (paragraph 4b) remain classified.
90%The Air Force requested declassification of the panel report's conclusions for use in the press.
90%The CIA and panel members agreed to declassify only paragraph 2's conclusion and paragraph 4a's recommendation, withholding paragraph 3's conclusion and paragraph 4b's recommendation.
90%The CIA sought to conceal the panel's association with the Agency, proposing paragraph 1 be rewritten to eliminate the connection.
90%The Air Force stated that Panel members' names would be used only within official circles and not given to the press.
85%
Events
Dec 31, 1952
Constitution of the Scientific Advisory Panel on Unidentified Flying Objects (Robertson Panel)
A scientific advisory panel on UFOs was constituted with H.P. Robertson as chairman and Goudsmit, Alvarez, Page, and Berkner as members; it reached two conclusions and made two recommendations.
Air Force request to declassify panel conclusions
The Air Force requested that the conclusions of the panel report be declassified for use in the press.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
pital tie - ‘ F sd “Dr. Lloya V. Berkner - President — Associated Universities, Incorporated = Foon 6920 350 Fifth Avenue Hew Yors 1, New York Dear Lloyd:- » You vill reeslL) in Jenuaxy_1953, we constituted a Selentific a favisory Panel. on Unidentified Flying Odjects with Drs. Il. P. Rot: artsoa ~ ~ es Cnoirmen, Samel Goudsnait, Luis W. Alvarez, Morton Page, and = et; - yoursel? es teiberse After its deliberation, the Psnel reeched two conclusions and nede-two recosmendations wilea vere included as Tah-A of the report. Very. recently, thé Alr-Frorce hag requested that the_ ce conclusions of this report_ve declassified so that they nay be used Sn the press. A copy.of the reoort 1s enclosed herewith for your information. I have discussed this matter with Dr. Robertson end Dr. Coudsmit who esree that the conclusioa contained in paregrash 2 end the recozzendzation contained in paragropa ha con de declassified. But, they, @5 voll o3 this Agency, wilt not acree to a declessification of the ~~ concluaton. in paresreck 3 or the recottendation in paresrenh bb. It- is oar feeling that the-association of-the Panel vith this Agency — - . should not be disclosed; that paragraph 1 could be rewritten to elintnate this connections” end taat the finel six Linss of peragrapa 4 cen otand es written. I have queried the Air Forceas to vhetner the nares of the Panel ; menbers would te uzed. They have replied-that nares would be used only. = within official circles snd vould not be given'to the press: Buby ea such nfornation nas a tendency at tines to filter oub, it snoud be recognized that, if oporoval-is given for use of the mes, they mney welh become ~~. > 0 corn knovledse. \ * % ~~ we. ae : — ; . Ams ns me eee gem tne ee meee “Dr. Lloya V. Eerkner President fssociated Universities, Incorporated Roon 6920 —C- 390 Fifth Avenue Few Yors 1, Hew York Dear Lloyd: You vill recall in Jenuary.1953, ve constituted a Sclentific Advisory Pens) on Ualdentified Flying Objects with Dres Il. P. Rot. ertsoa _ es Cssirgsn, Samiel Goudsalt, Luis W. Alvarez, Thorton Page, end-= = yoursel? es randbers.e— After its dcea)iberation, the Panel reached. two: cee ee conelusions and nede tvo recommendations which vere included as Tab A - of the reoort. Very recently, the Air Force has recriested that the : conclusions of this report be declassified so that they may be used in - De the press. A copy of the reoort_is_enclosed herewith for your information. ~~ - I have discussed thls matter_with Dr. Robertson end Dr. Goudsimiy ee who esree that the conclusion contained in paresrath 2 and the 9 = car Sean recozmonaation contained in paragropa-ha cen be declassified. But, they, i es vellas this Asoney, wil not acrée to a declessification of the : : conclusion tn paresres-3 or the recotzendsticn in paregresh bh. --It-- is our feeling that the association of _the Panel with this_ Agency — ee. should not tbe disclosed; that paracranh lL could de revrit tO_ elininate. a this connection; end tuat the final six Linss of paragraph 4 cen stand es written. I have queried the Air Force as to vnethner the names of the Panel _ - aes members vould be used. Ticy have replicd taat nases would de used. ealy = SSSsuT Ps LL within official-cireles end would not be g@iven'to the press:— tyty 22 such» oe information hes a tendency et tines to filter out, it snould be-recomisced... that, if cporoval is given for use of the nanes, they may wellk become 2. comaon knovledoe.— . \ in “ ~~ wow . ' th ee aoe errata woe baredon fen dy & would ba very mea appreciated if you could let m9 knov es coon as possible vaat your reaction is to the Alr Force deo clossification proposals whether you egree vita Dr. Robertson, Dr. Goudsait ond myself on Liniting eny declagolficetion; end whether you would aporove or disapprove the use of your name, granted that Agency connection with the Panel fa withheld, . Very best regards. _ v Sinserely, _ Pailin G. Stroug ° Demty Assistant Directo Enclosure Ut Report (Secret) '
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