Doc 0000184375

. ~·- ·. 24 Fobruar;.r 1949 ... Svcurity Rosoarch Section Interrogation Techniques o£ Unfriendly Countrios Ourir.t; t:w 'SJ$~k of J 'Allu~y lG - 22, 191~, 11 ilritish Ra::1en C11tnlllic wokl:.; called t:UJ "'Iablat", publis!':od en orticlo l:l. v;hlch tho:r. clt~.i:ntid t'lat the !Iun.:;~ian Communints planu.od to use "Bctedron", a will-dustrayine; druc, an Cvdinal Uindszonty at tho time of his trial .Jn chnrc;es or hi;~ tre~on. The article 1n the "TAblet" •~id th~t it is comnon ~nowled~e that political prisoners or Soviet-occupied countr-ies are given the ctruc a.Ctor _being starved and deprived or water. ,At first, it produces aolf-contidonco, then a reaction which includes a atronc headach~ ftnd vertigo, accordin; to tho article. T:le latter effects are described llS a. sense of uncertnlnty, a blind urc;o to obey tho sli~htost orders ll.lld in~ility to s8;( no to an:rthin&• In th.is country, it was 'later discovered th'lt "nctedron" is " trodo n!5--ne for the drug 1'10 know o.s bonzeurine {or amphetamine aulfttte). Altaoug;h no tr11ce of the use of benzedrine for interrogation purposes in the United Stat~a can be found, it has bean the contention or thls_offioe - for tome time that the drug hu atrong possibilities for the extraction or information durine; on interroc;ation. The dru~, ben~odrine, 'ldmlnistored 1n sufficiently lar~e closes, acts u n at.·onc sti.!:tulant 'Uld :n9kos tho subjoct ovor-confldunt, undisorlminntin~ R.lld somewhnt lA.ckin~ in 1nhihlt.iono {pro vl:ioJ. t.!le sub.~act ia ~llo?,'IJU no phyaical ouUet for his nowly acq;.:.ireJ. onerr:r other thllrl convero'it:.ion). It is durin; l;his period thnt it is felt that a be gre 'lt do o.l or 1n.1.·or:no.tion coulu be olioi ted which ordin~trily woull,l :1ot obtainable. -- , ,·· It is turthor felt that there is .Iso ~other ctrons interroG~tion pots1- billty in the usa· of benzedrine beoide the "benzodrino aocoler11tion" period Mentioned abovo. followi~ tt-.o teminntion or t:1o stimulation effect of a lerc;e dose of bon.r.odrine or .., series of :utvlll dosco, the1-e is a period of p!'qsical e.xhF.LWJtlon ll!ld mental depression. This io cauoed by tl1o adc!ition.U. .· demond placed on the body by tho c.lru& a:1d b;r ·tho absence of sufflciont fuel, in the for:n or rood, to support the bocly nt the :liGh peck or activit:,r W}lich is o.lw~~s present when one is unuot· th9 influence of tho drub (benzedrine complotoly nullifi~s ·the person's ,ppstite wh-llo :.mdor its infl•;ouco). .!Juring tnis state of deprossion, it ls felt thnt the subject, in The image displays a graphic resembling a bank vault with a blue glow. To the right of the vault, text is presented. The heading "THE BLACK VAULT" is in a stylized, white, hand-written font. Below this, white text explains that the document was obtained from "The Black Vault," an online database of declassified government documents, specifically from the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection. The text also states that the collection contains over 20,000 declassified pages from the CIA and provides a URL for downloading. There are no photographs, handwritten annotations, signatures, official stamps, forms, diagrams, tables, or redactions visible in this image. This document is a typewritten page with a handwritten annotation at the top reading "A/B I 15-2". There is a large, dark, irregular shape at the bottom of the page that appears to be a redaction or obscured content. The text discusses interrogation techniques and the drug Benzedrine. There are no photographs, stamps, forms, diagrams, or structured data visible on the page. The page also has several small vertical lines and dots along the right margin, possibly indicating a filing or review system. in the for:n or rood, to support the bocly nt the :liGh peck or activit:,r W}lich is o.lw~~s present when one is unuot· th9 influence of tho drub (benzedrine complotoly nullifi~s ·the person's ,ppstite wh-llo :.mdor its infl•;ouco). .!Juring tnis state of deprossion, it ls felt thnt the subject, in hin dospili. would breW. uovm and c:ive out much infon:l'ltion which tlou.ld otherwise be nithhelc.l. The 11bo7o montionou possible uocs of tho drug exph.ln t;o-:>u po1·tl-on of 11 t:te :nnteriol in the "Toblot's" fi'.rticle. The ~o.Lter e!'focto, deocribed by tho "Tablet" liD a blind urge to obey the sliGhtest orders and in~bility to o~ no to o.uJthinc, cannot he ex;:>hinod by ll1'll or the ph;rsicnl or mental o!'fects or _ either the "benzedrine acceleration" period or the following "mental depression" period. For this reason. other techniques must be ueed in conjunction with the - adminieterinr; of benzedrine. to produce. the other mentione.d. conditions. · . - .. ..... - --- .... -. -.. .-=~,·' ->4e. -· " ·c.•""'• • ;.:;. ....... -,;... ,-...... ·-. ·--·-.,; --· .-..., ~- -·. •" ·I • "•. Chief• Security Br~~nch 24 Fe'br'..luy 1949 Alt.r10U6h it la felt t.httt t!l.Olle h.t.tor ei'l.'ect.s could not. ~o prodllced b:; benzedrine, it hAs been ~he ?pinion of th.is office th!!.t the "benzedrine dep1·euion" ph.uo· of the dn.tg could be utilised very readily to produce a atate of "aubconoious isolation" or "hypnotic atate" ·in ~hich thore would be a blind \lrt;• to obey the sliGhtest orders and 'ln in11bility to a~ no to "-V"thin,s. u :nentioned in t~te article. · In tho case· of C11rrlin'll L~ind~aontJ'B trhl, certAin 'l.hi!<:Jlons of r,uilt WElre conslstorrtly mtJda over·" period of diJ;,·s which ~-:ould lnrlice:';o thn.t a contlltiou existetl durinb "'lhich tho C~rdina.l WilD eontinu~tlly un•ler the influence C'lf aorr.e unknown force, and not for r.terel;; a period or " rev:. hours ~ would t,e the CDIG nith tho utili&ation of the "benzodrino depraaslon" phuee The pro duction of Lhis "benzodrina depretaion" phase .could be couaed to reour periodi cally b\l~ the subject would firet have to. be ~i~en new doseo of benzedrine which would produce eecoleration before the desired depresoion. 11' this were the ceo, t;te C111rdinal 'a testL':lony 'ttould bo very inconsistent: becn.aso of the opposite rn~ntal s1:ate nhich would bo present durinr; the two dlfferent psyoho lor;ical p·hn.sos. For this ranson, it 1a felt that aomo additionAl technique "U usod The document is a typed, single-page report dated February 24, 1949. It contains three large, dark blotches of ink near the top and bottom of the page, obscuring significant portions of the text. There is also a circular red stamp with illegible text in the lower left corner, and a series of horizontal lines, possibly annotations or emphasis marks, scattered throughout the right margin of the page. The paper appears aged and to have a textured surface, consistent with older printing methods. which would produce eecoleration before the desired depresoion. 11' this were the ceo, t;te C111rdinal 'a testL':lony 'ttould bo very inconsistent: becn.aso of the opposite rn~ntal s1:ate nhich would bo present durinr; the two dlfferent psyoho lor;ical p·hn.sos. For this ranson, it 1a felt that aomo additionAl technique "U usod on C'lrdinal :.:indszenty in conjunction \lith, or independent of, the ad.-niniaterinc or the tlrug, benzedrine. Every indication, from what ini'oiT.IB:tion can be obtdnod, points to tho ·- fact that the Cardinal was laborinG under a prolonged influence or tba typo which can be produced only by techniques aimih.r to, or tho eemo as, the Vl'll"ious Methods or subconcious isole.tion known to this office. 'this beinc the cuo, the Cardinal could, ftlld "llOuld, moke consistent partial t.d61seions as he did throu~h­ out his ·tr lel. Prior to his e.pprehension, he he.d :!ltlde st111tor.l.ents to the effect thnt P.. cor.. i 'os.don, to er1'J uegree, elicited froo bit!'. would be obtn.inod throut;h technical mothoda over whloh he had no control. F'rom the intonu.tion obtdne.d in the "Tab~t" article which 18¥1 that it h common kno~ledge that political prisoners o£ Soviet-occupied countries are giv-en interrOi;'ltion dru,~s, end frotU other sources of lnror:nation - in11dequate llS tho.:r o.re, it lo ob~ious the.t So9'iet-occupied countries 9.ro, to some oxtont, uaint; drucs to extr'l.Ct information durinc; the interroe;n tlon of tho ir prisonoro. Fro!a conclusions that. oan be drawn £rora inforrn11tion t~.vdb.blo, thoro is a stronc ..· -indication tb.llt these countries mJlil be further "dvenced th~"l l'IG rnirht c!lre to boltove in the use of sueh teohniqu~s aa the u:sc or l:onzcdrinc (for t.ho pro- . due ill£ or benzedrine accohrl\tion lll.tld depress lon), sodium pentothal (the so-on.lled "t.-r·..tt!l serum"), ·sciontific duress ( t.hird do:;rco ~cchniques) 111..!'\rl tho usa or vnrioua daDroes of h;rpnot.ic su,~~aatbn. Skillfully e.dr,inlstorod, rurJ of t!to ' .f n.hove r::nntionod tocluli:tucs could provo to bo rt.dv"ntn.~~unus to unfriondlJ CO'J.n- .. t.riGa, rmd o.r.tro:;lClj• hnrmful to the oi'!'orto or h1c r;t.tor p,rty lnvolved. It would 'lppcnr t!1at onch CIJ. o:71plo;roe '!xposaJ to tho t•or::1ible ~Loe of ~hose teah niquos, Loc ~"U:JO of 07crsof.l3 assi:;nn'Hltt~, should bo ";tOll inform'3d I!:! to hio ho" decreo of su:Jceptibility. to t~Le vnriout~ procedures and llS to ho mi~ht rooog• nbe the n.ttempted usc or each process. ·- .. .r-:· · ..- -.... ...J& • ~· :..: ... Chief, Security Branoh. 24 Februflry 1949 Fortun~ttoly, 6:11 por-;.,n3 'tr':l The page contains typed text from what appears to be a memo or report. There are several large, black, irregular redactions obscuring portions of the text and images, particularly in the bottom half of the page. Additionally, there are several handwritten markings, including the letter "A" appearing twice in the lower half, and a dash with a period (likely a bullet point) appearing as a visual marker for several paragraphs. There are no photographs, forms, diagrams, or stamps visible. assi:;nn'Hltt~, should bo ";tOll inform'3d I!:! to hio ho" decreo of su:Jceptibility. to t~Le vnriout~ procedures and llS to ho mi~ht rooog• nbe the n.ttempted usc or each process. ·- .. .r-:· · ..- -.... ...J& • ~· :..: ... Chief, Security Branoh. 24 Februflry 1949 Fortun~ttoly, 6:11 por-;.,n3 'tr':l not oqt.:.•ll;t m.tsc~pt.Plle to the vr-rio•..ts intorrO'Ciltlon toohniqaos :':'lontionod. r;-,c use or bor.:cdl'i~to •Joes not success fully ceuse the do-sired roaotion in all rersor.a. !ho uao of tao tru.tn aer.wn :" is. successtul in between ~ and 76~; of dl ouea where used (e.x~t atlltistioa are not o~t~lnllblo). The use or the lie detector ls successful ln ~pproximateiy 8~ or the oases where used, aubconclous isolation ~utilizin!; induced hypnosis without t'le 111.asistnnce of dr:-u~s) is suceeaoful in "-pprod~llltely 25;;. of tho cuea involvinr. i-ta· ll!.tto=ntJt'!d ltSfh Subcoucious isolation (utilidn~ induced hypnosis b. conjunction wi~h drucs) is aucoeos.ful in 60;·:, to 00;:~ Of dl CllS~S involvinr; ita ~tt~ted use.· It ia possible, th.rou~h the r~cilitlea of this office, end the utlli&lltlon ot aabconoioua isollltton, to comdition many persona in such ~·manner th.llt they are completely unsuaceptlble or only•partilllly euaeeptible to a technique to which they wero previout.ly vulnerable. In con;junction with the ~~_,ovo, it is l'lur;r.eatc.d th"t n pro~rn..~ be lnHhtod which r.ould serve to bfonn ~11 ~.pplicaulo employeo -,s to :·ds susceptibility to the Vl!rious 1ntl'!rro::;~tion techniq',<~!S, to instruct him boforc his de;arture con oernin~ tho reoor,~itior l.lf the ~t-l;te:r.ptod uaes, 11::: to whllt c~untor -:10e.auros ho :nicht tflke to .nulllf:r t~o succeaa of such e.n attou:pt, 'lnd it desired, condition - hLm so th~t l~ will no loncor be susceptible to tho v~ious untrie~dly interro &ation techni'.iues to which he m1~nt be exposed. It is rllrther :su~::es l;e1 thl'tt 1!. coll~ction ro:r..tiromcnt be i:ssued roo th~t thit! of1'ico mi~:itt ho tlto recipi~nt or '111 'lV'lil'lblo 1nf'ormr:o.tlon co!'lccrninc the intorro;,"t ibn teohni•l't~'l ;;.uder '!Otu c:..l use or reeo ~ch by u~fri,ndly cou.ntrio3. n~· ~e1'drln:- ouch in.f'om~tion, this orfic'3 can •t le111.at keep nbreut to or ponsioly surpua thnse intorror.lltion techni=1ues, - - ( . - -- . . . ..... - - ~ ~- . k'" ... ~ .. ... .. <· ... ...... ··-:·· ;.~~ ~~:.·~ ~· .·.>:·~:·-~-~·-:~~ \~.t. ...; ~_-. :• . ~ ~~--:.,.-.· ,.·.:-:-:;,~. .! ;~~;·~ :~.~~-'~4=~:.~-~~~~·~~~~:--...i·~~·.-. :~. - - ~ ~- . k'" ... ~ .. ... .. <· ... ...... ··-:·· ;.~~ ~~:.·~ ~· .·.>:·~:·-~-~·-:~~ \~.t. ...; ~_-. :• . ~ ~~--:.,.-.· ,.·.:-:-:;,~. .! ;~~;·~ :~.~~-'~4=~:.~-~~~~·~~~~:--...i·~~·.-. :~.