Approved For Relea%W2000108107 CIA-RDP96 00400070027-4
   _0017F81eTibuary 1973
   MEMO FOR THE RECORD
           SUBJECT Some Suggestions for Delineating the TSD and ORD
   Role and Aims in a Joint Paranormal Investigation
        1. During today's meeting with the TSD representatives our purpose should
   be to define with them the role ORD can most appropriately play in supplement-
   ing their existing project, our respective functions/goals in the proposed joint
   approach and how we can most effectively work together in achieving them.
        2. Before we can address ourselves to these matters, however, there are
   a number of practical questions which we should try to clarify with TSD--viz:
   SG1H
   It may well be that the TSD representatives will have a number of equally searching
   questions for us, questions which would have to be answered candidlybef ore any
   serious discussions enuld begin. I can only imagine that they might be in the foll-
   owing general areas: Is ORD prepared to put money into the project and, if so, in
   what general magnitude? What is ORD's present view on the legitimacy/ significance/
   application of the phenomena? What would be ORD's goal/purpose in joining the
   investigation? What (in addition to funds) could ORD contribute to the process --
   e. g. , in the form of staff time and expertese, other contractual resources? What
   is ORD's view on the ultimate feasibility of understanding /controlling /applying
   the phenomena ?
        3. Once the above and/or other questions are dealt with as frankly and com-
   pletely as possible, we can address ourselves to the broad outlines of our mutual
   roles in the proposed joint project (NOTE: I believe that the detailed mechanics
   shorld be discussed only after other action is taken, see para 4 below). As a
   point of departure on the basic issue, one which,seems consistent with our
   Approved For Release 2000/08/07, ',CIA-AW96-00787ROO0400070027-4
   - the status of their current project with SRI: terms, timing, stated
   goals, contractual commitments on both sides;

  SG1H
  SG1 I
                                Approved For Relea-c0%2000/08/07 : CIA-RDID96-007879WbO400070027-4
  2 -
  respective charters, we might suggest that:
    or
  TSD's primary concern should be with the physical,, mysychical manifes
  tations of the phenomena themselves (what the Subjects are to do) and with the
  question of immediate or mid-term practical operational exploitation of such
  skills or talents (i. e. , loosely 'applied' research);
  while ORD's primary concern should be to study the underlying dynamics
  of the phenomena (and of the Subjects) in order to arrive at the kind of understanding
  which might permit mid- to lorggrange capacities for optimal exploitation by devel-
  oping techniques for identifying the essential attributes in others and programs for
  surfacing/ comtr oll ing/ enhancing /applying the skills or powers (i.e., loosely
            'basic' research).
  I
  Obviously, at the outset at least, these two efforts would go hand-in-hand and the
  project would be physically as well as conceptually a 'joint' one; but, should we
  establish incontrovertible evidence of the existence of the phenomena, it is likely
  that the activities and the paths of research would begin to diverge. By that time,
  hopefully, we would be on a sounder footing with the original Subjects and may have
  found other cooperative Subjects (from the point of view of 'basic' research it seems
  that the widest possible Subject population will give us the best chance of identifying
  the critical variables).
       4. Once agreement is reached on the above, the logical next step would be for
  TSD/ORD to host (at perhaps) a highly informal preliminary conference
  with Agency personnel who have the most legitimate interest in the subject and the
  most sulastantive contribution to make. (NOTE, the conferees might include: Mr
  and representatives from OMS
  and the Offices of Security and Commo. ) Preceded by a brief yet provocative memo,
  the purpose of this conference would be to ensure that all legitimate interests and
  ideas are considered before we address ourselves to project design. Each member
  should be prepared to speak to a number of questions--e. g. : What significance do
  you (your office) see in these phenomena for your special area of interest? What
  practical (offensive and/or defensive) application can you envisage? What kinds of
  questions would you want to see amswered by our investigations ? What kinds of
  experiments might be crucial from the point of view of your special interests ? Nvkat
  kinds of laboratory and/or analytical- statist6cal controls would you like to see
  instituted? What kinds of non-phenomena fmedical/beh%i oral, etc) testing of the
  Subjects would you like to suggest? With the results of such a conference in hand
  TSD and ORD could confidently proceed to structure the design and content of the
  project. SG1 I
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