CIA-RDP96-00787R000400070023-8

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000400070023-8
28 Feb 73
MEMORANDUM FOR : C/ORD
SUBJECT
: Discussion of 'Paranormal' Issue with
SG11
INFO
DC/ORD
SG11. Per your instructions as conveyed by
I called and met Mr
SG11
) on 27 Feb and we discussed paranormal and related matters for
an nour and a half. The salient points covered were, briefly, as follows.
a. I briefed him on the genesis of our (ORD)) involvement -- i. e., the SRI
presentation, my paper, discussions with you and C/TSD, the decision to explore
a joint approach, the outcome of the 1 and 16 Feb meetings with TSD and SRI and
our tentative plans for further pursuit of the basic research with TSD and SRI.
b. Mr S then briefed me on the background from his perspective and on his
views, to wit: early developments with Mr TARG when he still worked for SYLVANIA;
SG1Gsome of GELLER's alleged exploits
his (S's) early attempts
to ensure that appropriate Agency elements were aware of the potential represented
by the phenomena (if validated) -- with his primary concern being that, as a brand-new
and wholly extraneous 'technology', it would fall between the stools. This fear seems
to have been substantiated by the indifference and/or lack of comprehension which
he has run into in virtually every quarter. He fears that there might be a large
flap potential in it for the Agency -- almost no matter what we do -- but that it is
incumbent upon us to proceed in any case. He has been trying to convince C/DDS&T
that a quick, 'big bite' immersion (even multi-millions, if necessary) may be called
for -- but with uncertain success thus far. He also believes that the DCI should be
briefed and warned of the flap potential but, so far as he knows, this has not yet
been done. Mr S's basic position appears to be that : he believes in the existence of
some phenomena (tho he doesn't exclude the possibility of, in part at least, some
trickery by GELLER); and that we may never fully 'understand' the phenomena any
more than we understand gravity -- but that isn't necessarily important as long as we
can quantify, predict and -- to some degree -- control its performance.
c. We agreed on the need for a well-reasoned, integrated approach by all
Agency elements having a legitimate interest (CI Staff, Security, OMS, ORD, OSI,
TSD) -- and on the need for keeping the matter as low key as possible until all the
evidence is in. We also discussed the possible procedures should the 'big bite'
philosophy prevail -- e. g. , setting SRI up in a new lab near here under our control
and possibly with
setting up a 'clean' overt screening mechanism
SG1H for new subjects, etc. When I asked if I was right in assuming that ORD & TSD
should proceed with the joint program in the interim (possibly to the extent of our
putting up the 100K necessary for a full year of SRI research), he emphatically
agreed -- stating that he felt C/DDS&T would be critical of us only if we moved too
slowly and, for instance, let GELLER get away from us. He accepted and seemed
pleased by my description of the wholly cooperative TSD/ORD atmosphere.
2. I invited Mr S to the next TSD/ORD meeting (tentatively scheduled for 2
March) but he had a prior commitment. I left him copies of my paper and thegMemo
of Recordpurobed For Release 2000/08/07s-GIA-RDP96-00787R00
un informed of friture develop-
ments.
He intends, I believe, to do likewise.
SG11