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29 January 1974
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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Trip Report, 23-25 January 1974
Stanford Research Institute, Paranormal
Investigations
met with
Drs. Cox, Jones, Puthoff, and Targ of SRI for about eight
hours on 24 January and three hours on 25 January to discuss
procedures, tasks and guidelines and to reach contractual
agreement on the one-year ($150K) effort. Attached are
annotated copies of the "tasks" and "guidelines" papers
which provided a partial foundation for the discussions.
This memorandum merely elucidates those documents as
necessary and covers briefly such other matters and agree-
ments or unresolved points as are appropriate for the
record.
2. Contractual Agreement., Both SRI's and OTS's con-
tract officers were present for these portions of the discussions
and the "proposed Work Statement" (also attached) was adopted
as the contractual base with the following modifications:
a. Somewhat more flexibility in the
apportionment of time was provided by inserting
"approximately" before each of the percentiles
listed under "basic research" on page 3.
b. Reporting procedures will call for
brief written reports each month and two lengthy
interim reports in May and September 1974, as
well as a final report in February 1975.
IMPDET
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c. All reports will contain accounts of
technical progress and financial status for each
of the two task areas--applied and basic research.
d. Following receipt of the two interim
reports, the SRI investigators will visit D.C. for
conferences on achievements and plans and, possibly,
for presentations to a broader sponsor audience.
It was also agreed that SRI's reports should be UNCLASSIFIED
rather than SECRET and this change in the contract draft will
be adopted oncel informs the OTS contracts officer
that he has obtained ORD/PRB approval, if necessary. CLOTE: it
was separately agreed betweeni ithat
they should visit the SRI site at the -iFe-ryleast at the mid-
points between SRI reports [i.e,.,, April, July and November],
thus providing for at least five detailed conferences during
the project year.)
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3. Guidelines: (See Attached Memorandum) The guidelines
were adopted with the following modifications and clarifica-
tions:
a. The data control restrictions (para. 2)
do not apply to cleared SRI personnel and con-
sultants essential for supporting special phases
of research (e.g., medical, sensory, behavioral
and neurophysiological testing).
b. The explicit addition ofi
to the (para. 3) list of "authorized" sponsor
personnel.
c. There were several lengthy discussions
in which we tried to clarify the need for and
intent of language relating to "authorized
personnel" -- stressing the practical advantages
and the bureaucratic necessities, as well as the
confusion which characterize earlier efforts
largely because such controls were not observed.
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We stressed in a number of ways (and it seems
that SRI finally understood) that these were not
discriminatory measures aimed at putting-down
any individuals or at precluding contacts which
SRI felt were essential; SRI could, naturally,
continue to relate to other sponsor personnel on
paranormal theory or on other aspects reflecting
legitimate sponsor interest and functions--they
simply would not talk to unauthorized sponsor
personnel about this project without first obtain-
ing the approval of the project officer.
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d. With respect to "other sponsorship" it
was noted that the contract specified we were
buying only 75% of the time of SRI's paranormal
investigators and that, in fact, SRI now has two
other contracts in this field:
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ORD 0390-74
e. Three other security aspects were
discussed:
-The possibility of clearing at least
some of the "superstars" such as Pat Price,
thereby making for easier handling and more
security;1 will look into the advis- SG1 I
ability of this course;
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SGI I will initiate traces.
credibility in research results by having the
investigators polygraphed at some appropriate
SG11 time- SRI personnel were receptive to the idea
and mentioned only that SRI should have full
access @o the conclusions unless the polygrapy
were done specifically for security purposes;
there was no definitive decision on this score
and the matter of timing and nature of the poly-
graphs (e.g., whether in a "security" or "ethics"
mode) was left open.
f. With respect to publication of data, SRI
mentioned "Naturels" invitation (see editorial,
attached) to publish the results of recent research
and showed us an early draft of an article they intend
to submit--focussing largely on the Price OOB work; we
will see the final draft before they sent it to "Nature".
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ORD 0390-74
4. Tasks: (See attached outline.) The "All and "B"
annotations on the attached indicate tasks to be "implemented"
and those to be "considered," respectively. SRI will have to
consult a number of its own specialists to determine exactly
what devices/instrumentation are available and there might be
some further modification as a consequence -- but, it was
clearly agreed that, to the extent possible, all the indicated
tests should be undertaken and that, in addition, other useful
possibilities should be explored. SRI was quite receptive to
the whole thrust and intent of the basic research tasks -- all
of which will be reported on separately in the monthly and interim
reports. Noteworthy comments on the "tasks" are as follows:
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will discuss this
SG1D with it was tentatively agreed that the psychiatric
portion might be omitted.
b. The Part I testing of the subjects will be
done concurrent with the applied research (i.e., not
delayed until later in the year) and, while all the
tests will be employed at the outset, it is hoped that
by mid-year there might be sufficient evidence to
permit greater focus. The Part II testing (neurophysio-
logical correlates) will be done as appropriate during
the course of the applied research and these results will
be integrated with the medical, sensory and behavioral
tests in an attempt to find cues for focus.
C. SRI bought the "referee" concept and might
use their blue-ribbon panel for this purpose; but Otis
and Pineo will not be used (there is a serious personality
clash with regards to Otis).
d. An additional guideline, to the effect that
the investigators would not take part in the experi-
ments (e.g., as "senders," etc.) was agreed upon; in
particular with respect to one possible subject (Hella
HAMID), however, Targ might be used one time to establish
a baseline -- but such data should be identified and
handled separately.
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e. As for the subjects, it was tentatively
agreed that there would be three "superstars"
(probably: PRICE, SWAN and a thrid yet to be
identified -- possibly HAMID or ELGIN), three
run-of-the-mill psychics and three controls
(not to include any of the research team).
f. It was agreed that the sponsor might try
to provide some of the'testing gear (e.g., the SG11
gradiometer F_ will check] and polygraph
SG1 I will check].
g. As for the self-inventory check-list
to be filled out by the subjects on the morning
of each test day, we agreed to ask I lif SG11
he had or knew of any existing instrument that might
serve.
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Attachments
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