CIA Letter to ASIO Director on Declassification of Warren Commission Document CD-971 (1968)
This declassified single-page document is a letter from CIA Director Richard Helms to Charles C.F. Spry, Director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), dated 26 November 1968. Helms acknowledges Spry's letter of 15 October arguing against the declassification of a document referred to as CD-971. Helms states that a CIA inquiry to ASIO in August 1968 was made in anticipation of further pressure for the release of Warren Commission papers, pressure which had not materialized, and confirms there is at present no intention to release CD-971. He adds that the points raised by Spry provide every reason to keep the document out of the public domain. The letter was drafted through the CIA's Deputy Director for Plans / Far East division (DDP/FE), and was released by the National Archives on 18 March 2025 as part of the 2025 JFK assassination records release.
Description
A one-page CIA letter dated 26 November 1968, signed by Director Richard Helms and addressed to Charles C.F. Spry, Director of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), concerning objections to the declassification and release of document CD-971 related to the Warren Commission papers. Released by the U.S. National Archives on 18 March 2025 under the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Act of 1992.
Claims
CIA Director Richard Helms wrote to ASIO Director Charles Spry on 26 November 1968 stating there was no present intention to release Warren Commission document CD-971.
85%The CIA had no intention, as of November 1968, to release the document CD-971 related to Warren Commission papers.
80%The CIA's August 1968 inquiry to ASIO was made in anticipation of anticipated pressure for release of Warren Commission papers, which Helms states did not materialize.
80%Helms indicated the points raised by Spry provided reason to keep the document out of the public domain.
80%ASIO Director Charles Spry argued against the declassification of CD-971.
75%A CIA inquiry to ASIO in August 1968 anticipated pressure for release of Warren Commission papers that did not materialize.
75%
Events
Jul 31, 1968
CIA inquiry to ASIO
CIA inquiry to ASIO made in anticipation of pressure to release Warren Commission papers.
Nov 25, 1968
Helms reply letter
CIA Director Helms confirms no intention to release CD-971.
Oct 14, 1968
Spry letter to CIA
ASIO Director Spry writes arguing against declassification of CD-971.
Mar 17, 2025
NARA 2025 release
Document released by the National Archives under the JFK Records Act.
Oct 14, 1968
Spry letter to Helms
Spry's letter arguing against declassification of CD-971.
Mar 17, 2025
NARA public release
Document released under the JFK Assassination Records Act.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
Lye ee ae Te a . | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 tome eea | [Fores ¥easd} - a 2 6 NOV 1968 NL tn en ON, — "| | gae cnartes C.F. apry - LS | General —\N Director | usteelian Security Intelligence Organisation | G. B. 0. Box S1OSEB ~~ = i as Thank you for your letter of 4S Gotoher gainst the declaseifieation of or on document Cp-971. I might mention that ear inquiry to you in August (1968) was in anticipation of further pressure for the release ef Warren Commigeion papers, a pressure which has not meterialized. aovordingly, there ia not, at the present time, any intention te release Cd~971. time, the “pointe. nade oy you in your Totter provide | : every reason to keep the docunon’ of the public domain. With kindest regards, Js] Richard Helmy Direeter Diet Addo ec: BBCI lL - aADBP Or - » | Z 2 =~ I Signature Recommended: a 7 GED at pcr i Vn ay Ud - 1 Pavan) a - es rere O65 te Deputy Gixector fox" ans DDR/FE/PHT/AN/Amos Taylor, J —— (25 November 1908) Fs
Related files
Connected through the network
SF-2026-000655
CIA Routing Sheet: Sir Charles Spry Letter on Declassification of Warren Commission Document CD-971
SF-2026-000657