Doc 0000148255

------------------ . --------------------------- ... ----------·-·-··---·--- f.· Office Me1;toraJzdtt1JZ • uNITED sTATEs Govl:l{.Nl\rENT TO File DATE: 21 December 1951 FROM -·- - ... .. ·. . ~ SUBJECT: "Artichoke--Bluebird" Conf~rence 1. On 21 December 1951, 10:30 ~!, a confer~nce relative Bluebird A was ~ld in the office of Those present were, A A A . + 1 1 wr~..,er. 2. A ;st~!-~-:-,::':'~'-:<-·.~.::=!·· '1 /:¥.-r-.. ::-:s:stated that., at the present time, all of the i> ;-·--- · ·_---- -~-:.- were co-opara.tine 100% with the "Artichoke" work and ·-he ··F3mph-asfi"ed that th~re ·,;a~ a need for full co-ordination of th~ :•ori< ;.;i thtn this Agency as well as co-ordin!lti::m w!,.tp_t.b~,_,R.nrticinatinp; ~ -~~~·--:-:~--· He st~ted that!.~ of the, C H 1 had recently com~let~d his s;.;ing around t.h~J country to lbe up "clini- cally tr.ctined" peopl-~ wl-io ·..-ouJ.ct re av~ila.'ble for A~ork alonr: "Artichok9" C lines. He stated th-1-t the prohlem was, in the event.,....· .!=.-/as r.;- able to line up this ty·pe of personn~l, wh-3t could done ·...-i th therrt. C. In other ;.;ords, physi'=<t.lly, wher~ could the.y be placed if: · · - -,.,.as successf•Jl in cb~aininuhen. ',oJould the;r be at tachcd 'to;--· or · J.( G A directly attachP.d to: - According to these profes:.ionall:r - 1 1 and clinically trained individu~ls (c:tpp::J.rently psychiatrist.:;) were to 'be }/A att:;.cht7d to the ·.rarious "Artichoke'' te!lm:;. In this r.onnection, .. ___ _ _ .. fvi.su31ized the l-1~t. six tcans in oper:1tion and these peoph were to be the medical component of the various teams. .. 3. ~~~~to?. ted that a very serious cris #s had developed in the A ~~. experiment<l-1 ·.tork and th-1-t was that the experimental projects ;;ere run ning out of volunteers for d~~g and chemical exoerimentation. He stnted · that this was true of all agencie::; and that -· - . .. . .. • ..., c~~ i . . . }'and others had comphined that they could no 'longer continue to " a '1 · ~- - ···use their own peopb as guinea pigs since the wo,tk._;,:.p.~~ardous and ill effects had been felt. by m-1-ny of the subjects. .-~- ._ I indit:;;.ted th:lt A all <l.gencies were lookin~ toward CIA to orodT!C~ v~luntc~r personnel for this ty-pe of experimentation and stated that he felt th.;d:, A thr?Ugh our overseas proerasn a:;d-6ur deallngs '.titit alien:;, '.te should he able to coMe up with ns volunteers or other-.rise for the The image displays a stylized graphic of a vault door on the left, rendered in shades of gray and blue. The title "THE BLACK VAULT" is prominently displayed in white, stylized lettering against a dark, glowing background. To the right of the vault image, white text explains that the document was obtained from The Black Vault, an online database of declassified government documents, specifically the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection. The text further states that the collection contains over 20,000 declassified pages from the CIA and provides a website address for free download. There are no photographs, handwritten annotations, official stamps, forms, diagrams, tables, redactions, or visual evidence of experimental procedures present on this page. This document is a "Office Memorandum" from the United States Government, dated December 21, 1951. It is a typed document with several handwritten annotations in blue ink, including initialed abbreviations like "A/B, IL, 1,12" at the top right and individual letter initials next to paragraphs. There are also some bracketed obscurations indicating redacted content. The document appears to be a report or summary, with numbered points detailing a conference related to "Artichoke--Bluebird" and experimental work. .-~- ._ I indit:;;.ted th:lt A all <l.gencies were lookin~ toward CIA to orodT!C~ v~luntc~r personnel for this ty-pe of experimentation and stated that he felt th.;d:, A thr?Ugh our overseas proerasn a:;d-6ur deallngs '.titit alien:;, '.te should he able to coMe up with ns volunteers or other-.rise for the neces1ar1 -=-l.i~n:; experimentation in the "A.rtichoke11 work. u.' ... ·!f'h -"" ~1satd th;;.t. that w1s one of th~ ori!_;in.;l concepts A of the ~lan a~d indicated that thi~ m~tter was beinG con:>id~red. ----...:5..:.•.;.,· A q•Jestion then ar~o~ as tl.:l ;.rhethcr . 'has been fully cut in to the "Artichoke'' work. ·----......,., ~: A that. wa~ cut _in -~0- ~~ "Artichoke11 work but had not 'be~n brie.fed A r operationally... . . . . _rstated th-=it it rniBht ·be a g~od idea to hold A a conference with~~~~~~and oth~r rnernhers o::f= <th e. "Artichoke" group A since~--·=:=~~-- ··:~~~o·~ld be. interested. in this. we. • "stated that _.A C.. · ·, '.o'as aef~m. tely ~nterested 1n the work and ~o~as beconing in- A A creasingly mor~so. .. . , rst.'!.ted that. ·nad promised that he would give full support, furnish doctors, and act as consultant I any tirne he '<las called upon to do so in this work. The conference ap;reed A that after Christm:-t3, a series of talks 'Nould· be arranged with' · -4 _----. and others rel~ti ve this program and it •,.;as decided that/ .. ___ __: ~~-·.; _i'Would call,. . .- ..... and inform him that;..:.. . .:""-"-'-·'- .. __ J-:..;ould -A A ~- get in· touch with him later for a conference or series of conferences I with individuals working on "Artichoke~. -~ . ---._.·, .( r 6. There followed a short discussion on th~ use oft . . . !) A and' kxplained the Agency's position relative -co•v•-~•r•l... .n. --con- necHon with 'this-type of work. • A __. ..:.7. ~·. 'asked . . .· if h~ had heard th.:!.,t . . _ ,4 J --·::-:-.. .,. ....:,. . : _ 1 1 .-lwa:s in .... .. . . at exdctly ·the same timt? ,\.;as there. /( (i: ; ~~%£'!~;t~stated that he had no kno,.led!=!e of~---~'beinr; in!?~ I -at "that tine 'and to his positive kno•,.;led:;e, did not touch tany of - .A, r th~ CIA installations in that C-:Juntr-1 or he · ~·..;ould ha·ve heard ,4. of, .E!e:-;ence. ~ · 1st.ated ths.(he did not"kno\• if C,l'\ (i: ; ~~%£'!~;t~stated that he had no kno,.led!=!e of~---~'beinr; in!?~ I -at "that tine 'and to his positive kno•,.;led:;e, did not touch tany of - .A, r th~ CIA installations in that C-:Juntr-1 or he · ~·..;ould ha·ve heard ,4. of, .E!e:-;ence. ~ · 1st.ated ths.(he did not"kno\• if C,l'\ 4 t:,A wasir( , }but he had ht".:1rd that he was there.... ~ stated that he wculd a tternpt to verify if, Jhad made this trip C. and for what reason. - -· e a. A, ~ ;~~-+.-~~.:stated that~~~.. ... :.. ....~. ~ad ju3t returned rron a trip 1= - to~:-:W·..;her~ he ~o.·a3 a member of' a team of three individuals apparently H sent out by th~.. , . ,.s~ated that----· .had reported on A~ 7"" this trip to the~upon his ret:.1rn. -- --·~· •stated further that I'). apparently the reason for the trip was· to work ot.iG co-ordinating com- e; ,A. /!1 mi ttee th3.t could set up a method of dealing with the ... - . ~~ . ;go•rern- rnent for securing and exchanging int~lligence information. A,C o. · · - ·- · · sugg~sted th~t oossiblv,' ~ould hrive 'been at~ . and had conferences with the, ,rp eop 1 e ' , <ln o were F,H there: -He stated that this also would have to do with the obtaining != of intelligence-tyPe information through thd .fgovernnent -1nc! that c las an official, could conceivably have been t.;lking ·..;ith Ill 1 M w,;ople who ~ .. C;:trrying on negotiations wl th th·~ H,F 10. stated that th'! recent ca3e that '""as propos~d for A •• Artichoke" work irl ~as erroneously handled, that the individual ~ • ''" -2- ·• not in question was a low-l~vel agent, and that he was definltely/wo rth a trip by the "Artichoke" team. I• •' ll.~~-..,..,... .. . --.eft •':"""*~1 asked,f fi! another operation oc- A; A curred in the imrrJediate future, could other interested agencies be cut in ani further, could individuals of other agencies be br:~ught dir.ectly into the operational case. _ ]stated that this was not pos- ~ sible in any strict op~rationn.l easeL He.:.s.t:.ated that operational ca:;es coul_g only be h:mdled hy CIA people arid that ·the introduction of I w;j H f· i H or other goverill'lent pers•)nn~l into the CriSe was entirely too risky, would expose the cover of CIA peopl~and would spre~d the kno~ledge of '.• The image is a scanned page from a typewritten document with handwritten annotations. The document appears to be a transcript of a meeting or interview, with numbered points from 6 to 10. Several portions of the text are redacted, indicated by black ink. Handwritten annotations, in the form of letters and short phrases, are present in the margins of the document, likely indicating an individual's review or categorization of the content. The page is primarily text-based, with no photographs, diagrams, or forms visible. any strict op~rationn.l easeL He.:.s.t:.ated that operational ca:;es coul_g only be h:mdled hy CIA people arid that ·the introduction of I w;j H f· i H or other goverill'lent pers•)nn~l into the CriSe was entirely too risky, would expose the cover of CIA peopl~and would spre~d the kno~ledge of '.• f. . . · ' . A the "artichoke" work too widely. ~;?~[stated reports on operational cases, however, would "be made available to all prop~rly in terested parties but as far as actual participation is concerned, it - was not possible. • r. 14 12. expressed the view th~t it was essential to tell all cf the liaison men with whom he deals at once when "Artichoke" operations are being worked. He stated thrit this was essential because if he did ..... not co-oper<ite fully vith these agencies they in turn would close the , deal on supply in~ infortn~tion to CIA; this .,..ould include tec!lnir;al infor mation and operational information in which the:r were conductinr; the operations. 13. \., had been bri'!!J:_d concerning'the "Artich'({ke" work. stated thatf · }had been briefed by / s orne ti.rrie pre .;ious. e this ooint h<> ~"e ence a ain discu:Jsed(F.-i.~-~~ of tlle ~ r;-. -'(·... ~,.. . -._ .., ., ....... -·~::,-r.~.. ., ... -;a.~,:._-.,·.. ..~ -.. .7 - ,.t·~.·= ·.£:" :~P. ~.;;.. . •. .· ·.: .: :. ..~. - - ··' .. -..r.-:. ..;.~c;tated' L '"' hat .. . -~,.:...-,.., ..,....._ . .. ....... . .. ... :....:t;!&'f "L.Il rA"ll ~r, .. ·was a fully cleared consultant, had been briefed by him and his work A for the Ag'Jc'i had reached the implem".lntation stage. : · · · stated tha .." t·· ::; • . . '~\-las to build uo a reservoir of men for thi.~ t.roe· C'. , of work. In this connection,f··· -:. -·. ........· .~:. .. ··- ':" ·"' ·· ... _-... ..,.,:=~J. ··] A A· 1 H he would -..rite., up his plans on these proressionall:r train~r:iL · ... .• .~ .;. ,.- ~ A ... ·· · --t -. · people in connection with the "Artichoke11 work. . ... '-~agreed to do this in the immediate future. 15. The conference again discu.:;sed the use of ali~n subjects and all hands agreed that thr~s presented t:1e test pos:;ible means for hu;n.'ln ex- .,.. perim~nt.~ti'Jn work. in supporti.ns this, st.lterl that tll<:!re r'l are still a great This document is a typewritten report with handwritten annotations and marginalia. The handwritten notes, often in red ink, appear to be comments or classifications, with some letters like "A," "H," and "C" consistently appearing. There are also horizontal lines and checkmarks, suggesting key points or responses. Portions of the text are obscured by black redactions. The document includes numbered sections, indicating it's likely part of a larger report or transcript. The document is a typed page with handwritten annotations and some obscured content. The main body of text discusses recommendations for setting up vast training and recruitment bases. In the bottom left, there is a handwritten annotation "ck forwarded to" with a horizontal line beneath it, suggesting a routing or action taken. To the right of this, a date "12/28/51" is clearly visible. There are also several handwritten "A" marks scattered across the page, likely initials or indicators. The document has some redacted areas, particularly around the middle right, indicated by jagged or blacked-out sections. There are no photographs, diagrams, or official stamps visible on this specific page. "Artichoke11 work. . ... '-~agreed to do this in the immediate future. 15. The conference again discu.:;sed the use of ali~n subjects and all hands agreed that thr~s presented t:1e test pos:;ible means for hu;n.'ln ex- .,.. perim~nt.~ti'Jn work. in supporti.ns this, st.lterl that tll<:!re r'l are still a great numher of serious Q'l9S !:.ions in·Jol ved op~ra tionallj" in J.. the use of ali~n personnel in these exnerirnents and in the actual tP.:; ts. A qst:1ted that on: of 1..h<! mo~t .:1cut0 <\nd p<:!rplexinr; probl£>rn.1 in this matter vas th: disposal of 1ndividual3 after the:• had been treat.~d "" -3- by "Artichoka". 'Ibe discussion then turn9d to the nearness of som~ of. , the AO'ency bases to the :.--j-,•·. .:...·. :.-...-:...:.-:.:-2-"~ ...... ,.-'~·~.,.,~:~~;a-::§-o~·::~~-;;,:i:·6.~~~~'~-,· r~., A ~ '!) \:. • .._;-,.,.p. ..... ,~~· .:....\;.'. . .i.,_~.,.....w.~··· ·<·---·""'!'"' __ .......... ~ ........ - ..... .:- ·-=. stated that he was recommending the setting up of vast bases for training, _ recruitment, h,o,l$1-ng, etc. f~r removed from the- ... -·- - .- {f! _ ··stated tha. t he had no particular ideas as to where thes~ A · bases should he, but he thought possibly - ~ ~ ( :,night be good situations. He said-th~t he would think that the~e 'I I ·places· would make fine base areas since the Ar;ency could secure several thousand acres or more of land for our use and in addition could make ~e these bases tota.lly secure. He stated tha.t it was his idea that or..l.ce ~· these bases were set up (and in the not too distant future) that. "Arti- t· choke" experimentation could be carried on extensively in these bases. stated that in addition actual cases could be run at these ~e ba~es since there '.I'01.1ld he complete f<3cilities for all ty-;es of work th~re including sufficient guards, technical equipment, laboratory facilities, etc., etc. that would not exist elsewhere. .. ·-· r •-. -u- -- .. I ~-:-.'~ ... .:..........~. .: ~·,. .... ·~~~::-_·:"3;_:.::or.:--:···,-..:.. ~~: ......... ·--:.::=-··;;..:,;-w..,. . _-:·· ..: .:.:c..=-.~·_;,, .... ..,:.._,_. .... ~-·-~.......-. .-.v.. . ·. . ~~:..._::·:.,,.__,~_...J._~-·_...- ''_,_._;' .... ·:.· :.._ ·-·-:· : .......