What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified. Today we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum from February fourth, nineteen-fifty, concerning G-Two estimates from the Far East Command. This document highlights challenges in intelligence gathering and interagency cooperation during the early Cold War period. You can find this record at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00318/CI00318djvu.txt. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and is publicly available through The Black Vault's archive. It is a one-page memorandum, originally classified Secret, detailing intelligence estimation practices and observed difficulties with interagency coordination. The declassification authority for this record is not specified in the public release. The document is titled, "G-2 Estimates, Far East Command," and is a memorandum dated February fourth, nineteen-fifty, to the Chief of Staff, D-A, from General Headquarters, Far East Command, Military Intelligence Section, General Staff. It reads: "Subject: G-2 Estimates, Far East Command Memorandum To: The Chief of Staff, D/A One. With reference to our conversation on several intelligence matters, the problem of ‘estimates’ emanating from this Headquarters is largely based on a line of demarcation between sources of information and their collateral quality. F-E-C unhesitatingly reports or furnishes information on internal and external facts that are within direct reach or control of sources; for example: A. The Japanese Communist Party: Composition, membership. B. Racial Minorities in Japan: The Koreans. C. Subversive Operations of the Japan Communist Party. D. Reform program and status of the Jap. Police Establishments etc. We know all about these subjects, on direct intelligence informant nets and close continuous contact. We report from behind the Siberian iron curtain since we control the repatriate interrogations. On the other hand, an ‘estimate’ on Indo China, if developed or rather a ‘descriptive opinion’ is based almost entirely on Military Attaché reports. [two lines redacted under exemption B1] controlled by and already available to Washington. [four lines redacted under exemption B1] Three. There is a middle-ground solution, entirely practicable: The encouragement of staff visits, i.e., G-2 visits, to adjacent countries, for contact with Military Attachés and State Department representatives, with a view of lateral and complete exchange of reports, views and observations; reports of such visits would then be filed with [redacted] or J-C-S, as front-line reports and could well form the basis for ‘estimates’. We have tried that; we have to [one word redacted] by attitude by State Department local representatives; this obstructionist attitude was especially marked in the case of the Taipei Consul who never missed a chance to relay embarrassing gossip. [two words redacted] discourage military visits. The former [one word redacted] there would be a directive authority, approved by…

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-009Declassified

Filed NOV 12 · 2026Runtime 1 min

Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum From February Fourth

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 12, 2026

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Declassified. Today we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum from February fourth, nineteen-fifty, concerning G-Two estimates from the Far East Command. This document highlights challenges in intelligence gathering and interagency cooperation during the early Cold War period.

Date: NOV 12 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Central Intelligence Agency Record, A Memorandum From February Fourth about?: Declassified. Today we examine a declassified Central Intelligence Agency record, a memorandum from February fourth, nineteen-fifty, concerning G-Two estimates from the Far East Command. This document highlights challenges in intelligence gathering and interagency cooperation during the early Cold War period.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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