Doc 0000148374
CIA
This document is a memo from the CIA concerning countermeasures against interrogation aids and techniques, specifically mentioning drugs, hypnotism, and their combined use, and requests a project to study current information and intelligence on these techniques and possible defenses.
This is one record. The archive holds the rest — ask it anything across the MKUltra files and every answer is cited to the page.
Ask the archive about this →12 1'a:r l?!J9 !:t:l!OHAllDt_ll.! TO CHI.::F, 3ECUiZI TY EiWICH SUDJECT: Counter-r.:c.;.sures Against U~e of Jnterrcgation Aids and Techniques .1. Our c-1rrent research pro;;ect int':l tho. us~ of tr.e F"lr;;ra;;h has alre~c; indicated its effectiveness as an aid t-J in~nt;~a+.br.. It is ti!'le that we should C'Jnsider certain counter~easures .:!.Gainst mod~rn inten-o;;aticn aids -,;hich might be u.sed at:ninst us by an unfriendly- nation in either peace or TJar. .3pecifically, t;:e.se additional aids are dr.!t;s, hypnotism, ·or the use of· the two tcr;ether. Cur i:nmed.iate cbjective is to acq~.rire such basic and a11 thori tatbe infonna ticn necessary to brief our people on the r.'lann·er in ,.:hich these techniq•.1es might be usEld aGainst them and as to. Trhat defen:;i'lre rr.easures can be taken to cc:mbat them. This knovrled!;e is imp era ti ve . to either indi viC.,lals who may be exposed to such mct.hods thP-!J?SCl ve:; or to staffs who are responsible for the opera ticns and securi t~· of persons in er.posed positions. 2. Accordingly_, it is desired that you :lnitiate a prt:~ject tc study the current infr::-mation and intelli~ence concerning the::;e techniques cond the possible defense against tbem. J .. The entire prcbler.\ has been discussed with tm Assistant Direct.or, OSI rtho is in full accord vrith the impt:~rtance of such counter-measures. Arrancernents are being made for his further cooperation in the project. L. I SUGgest that. you as to take up this pn•ject. I\ ... cc: Q- . . . ~ 11 curity Control (I~E) ·Research Branch (U<-5) Inspect:ton Branch (!&S) aza+
One side of the page features an illustration of a vault door with intricate mechanical details. The other side of the page presents the title "THE BLACK VAULT" in large, stylized white letters against a dark, gradient background. Below the title, a block of white text provides information about the document's origin from an online database of declassified government documents, specifically mentioning the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection and its acquisition by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The text also includes a URL for online access to the collection.
The document is a typed memo with several handwritten annotations. At the top right, there is a handwritten annotation "A/B, 4, 23, 4" and a date "12 May 1949". There are several redactions across the document, obscuring specific names and phrases. A handwritten "A" is visible in the lower half of the page, and another "A" alongside a "G" appear near the "cc: Director" line. The bottom of the page includes typed names for various branches, "Security Control (I&S)", "Research Branch (I&S)", and "Inspection Branch (I&S)", with additional obscured content to their left.
Original source: view the released document