CIA-RDP96-00787R000400070028-3

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA RDB96-00787R000400070028-3
2 Feb 73
MEMO FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT
Informal Discussion on Paranormal Phenomena
SG11
1. On 30 Jan 73
and the undersigned
had an informal discussion of this topic, prompted by the SRI presentations and
the subsequent paper by the undersigned. This memo is in no sense an account
of that discussion but purports merely to record the overall sense of the meeting
and views of the participants.
2. C/ORD stated that he had no theoretic/philosophic difficulty in accepting
the existence of 'some types' of paranormal phenomena, although he suspected
that we might find ourselves incapable, now, of physically measuring or sensing
them in modes which permit true laboratory analysis. He agreed with the prop-
osition that the question of how and whether they could be appropriately/effectively
used by the intel community was a thorny one -- though he inclined to the pragmatic
view that if it works the operators should simply use it in whatever fashion is
appropriate on a case by case basis. He also agreed, however, that long-range
and optimum use would depend upon the degree to which we are able to arrive at
a genuine understanding of the reality lying behind the phenomena and the degree
to which we can devise ways of identifying people with the necessary attributes and
training/perfecting their capabilities -- both of which functions, he believed, should
be ORD's responsibility. In this context he expressed himself as willing to enter -
tain any reasonable proposal for ORD funding of a continuation of the investigations - -
if an appropriate and mutually supportive role vis a vis TSD could be devised. But
he was quite emphatic in stating that he wanted to avoid the creation of any
formal committees or steering panels; while he agreed that it was important to get
all of the substantive input necessary from the various Agency elements with a
legitimate interest and that the preparatory work had to be very meticulously
performed, it was essential to keep the effort a low-key one.
3. Other discussion ranged about the various anecdotal accounts of the GELLER
and (to a lesser extent) SWANN phenomena but the all of the substantive views, to
which all present appeared to agree, are reflected in para 2, above.
SG11
Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00787R000400070028-3