Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume X, National Security Policy

82. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Smith) to All Holders of NSC 5816¹

Washington, March 23, 1965.

SUBJECT

• Discontinuance of the Net Evaluation Subcommittee

The President on March 11, 1965, approved the recommendation of the Secretary of Defense² that NSC 5816, “A Net Evaluation Subcommittee,” be rescinded. The Subcommittee, having served its purpose with distinction, was discontinued on March 18 by National Security Action Memorandum No. 327.³ The type of study which the Subcommittee has conducted since 1958 will be accomplished by other means.

Copies of NSC 5816 now in the custody of the member agencies may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the regulations of the member agency relating to the custody and destruction of classified materials and with Executive Order 10501,⁴ as amended by Executive Order 10964.⁵

Bromley Smith

1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Agency File, National Security Council, Vol. I, Box 34. Top Secret; Special Limited Distribution. Regarding NSC 5816, see Document 72 and footnote 2 thereto.
2. Secretary McNamara’s recommendation to the President has not been found but probably followed closely his undated draft memorandum to the President, Document 72.
3. A copy is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, S/S–NSC Files: Lot 72 D 316, NSAM No. 327. It reproduced almost verbatim the wording suggested by Secretary McNamara; see footnote 4, Document 72.
4. E.O. 10501, “Safeguarding Official Information in the Interests of the Defense of the United States,” November 5, 1953, Federal Register, vol. 18, pp. 7049, 7051–7054.
5. E.O. 10964, “Amendment of Executive Order No. 10501, Entitled ‘Safeguarding Official Information in the Interests of the Defense of the United States,’” September 20, 1961, ibid., vol. 26, pp. 8932–8933.