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SF-2026-000650UnverifiedDeep State & Intel Agencies

CIA Letter to ASIO on Withholding Warren Commission Document CD-971 (1968)

This one-page document, released by the National Archives on 18 March 2025 as part of the JFK Assassination Records 2025 release (Record Number 104-10009-10222), is a letter apparently signed by CIA Director Richard Helms and addressed to 'Charles,' the Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) in Melbourne. The letter, dated around 25 November 1968, thanks the recipient for a 15 October letter recommending against the declassification of Warren Commission document CD-971. Helms notes that a CIA inquiry in August 1968 was made in anticipation of further pressure for the release of Warren Commission papers, pressure that had not materialized, and states there was accordingly no present intention to release the document. He indicates that the points raised in the ASIO letter provide reason to keep the document classified should the question arise in future. The document bears a distribution list, a document number (042 947), and a note marking it for FOIA Review in September 1976. The text is degraded/OCR-garbled in places.

Source: JFK Assassination Records - 2025 Documents Releasearchives.gov ↗Incident Nov 25, 1968Released Mar 18, 2025Discovered Jul 4, 202644.7 KBdocument
sha256:0011e556947a34e63206…

Description

A declassified CIA letter, released in the 2025 JFK Assassination Records disclosure, from CIA Director Richard Helms to the Director General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO) in Melbourne, concerning the recommended non-declassification of Warren Commission document CD-971.

Claims

  • CIA Director Richard Helms concurred with ASIO's recommendation against declassifying Warren Commission document CD-971.

    80%

  • A CIA inquiry to ASIO in August 1968 was made in anticipation of pressure for release of Warren Commission papers, which did not materialize.

    80%

  • There was no intention at the time (late 1968) to release the document.

    80%

  • ASIO recommended against the declassification of Warren Commission document CD-971.

    80%

  • The CIA had no intention, as of November 1968, to release the document, and cited ASIO's reasoning to keep it classified.

    80%

  • The CIA's August 1968 inquiry anticipated pressure to release Warren Commission papers that did not materialize.

    75%

  • The letter was signed for CIA Director Richard Helms.

    70%

Events

  1. Jul 31, 1968

    CIA inquiry to ASIO re: Warren Commission papers

    CIA made an inquiry in anticipation of pressure for release of Warren Commission papers.

  2. Oct 14, 1968

    ASIO letter recommending against declassification

    ASIO Director General wrote recommending against declassification of CD-971.

  3. Nov 24, 1968

    Helms reply letter

    Helms responds concurring that there was no intention to release the document.

  4. Mar 17, 2025

    NARA 2025 release

    Document released as part of the JFK Assassination Records 2025 disclosure.

  5. Nov 24, 1968

    CIA reply to ASIO on CD-971 declassification

    Letter for Richard Helms accepting ASIO's recommendation against declassifying Warren Commission document CD-971.

  6. Oct 14, 1968

    ASIO recommendation letter

    Charles's letter recommending against declassification, referenced in the CIA reply.

  7. Jul 31, 1968

    CIA August 1968 inquiry to ASIO

    Earlier CIA inquiry anticipating pressure to release Warren Commission papers.

  8. Aug 31, 1976

    FOIA review notation

    Document marked for FOIA Review in September 1976.

  9. Mar 17, 2025

    NARA public release

    Released within the JFK Assassination Records 2025 Documents Release.

Dates mentioned

1968-081968-10-151968-11-251976-092025-03-18

Keywords

JFK assassination recordsWarren CommissionCD-971ASIOCIARichard HelmsdeclassificationAustraliaFOIA2025 release

Entities

Extracted text (OCR)
sthegat! fs,

 . * ™“ Director General
- Australian Sacurity Intelligence Organization
; @& PB O Box &105R2 -
- Melbourne

Dear Charles,

Thank you for your Ietter of 15 October
| recommending against the declassification of

Warren Cosmisaion docuncnt Co-971. I might
A mention that our inquiry to you in August (19638)
. waz in anticipation of further pressure for the . pee
release of Warren Comaigsion payers, a pressure v, A wu),
which has not materialized. Accordingly, there is V k
mot, at the present tinge, any latention to release 0 Xf ne

Should the question be raised at sone future | : iN iA 7
tine, the points made by you in your letter provide

i every reason to keep tue document out of the og be

‘(Wita xindest regards,

Sincerely,

sO, | Js/ Richard Helmy | \
an Dovutnent Number 042 947 .

Richard Yelug

for FOIA Review on SEP 1976 . Director
| , Distribution;
ec: RDDCI 1 - ADDP Orde - pace
Signature Recommended: ~ ay | 1 - ppcr
Git : ~ DDP
. ics vee iMate coe mee angy
. veputy Director for’ “Slane “pate :
| DDP/FE/PMI/AN/Amos Taylor, Jr. (x sa :aib (25 November: 1968), -

ram 6s ks i

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