What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Top Secret letter from the Department of State, dated July sixth, nineteen-fifty, concerning a proposal for a United States-directed intelligence organization in Taiwan. This document offers a glimpse into early American intelligence planning regarding China. It can be found at archive.org. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act and reviewed for declassification on March tenth, nineteen-ninety-four, under the authority of the State Department. It was declassified with the concurrence of the Central Intelligence Agency. The document is a letter addressed to Colonel Robert A. Schow, Assistant Director, Central Intelligence Agency, Washington, D. C. It reads: "Dear Colonel Schow: Please refer to Hong Kong dispatches No. 5350 and No. 534 of May twenty-seventh, which concern a proposal made by a Chinese to an officer of the Consulate General. Copies of these dispatches have already been forwarded to your offices. The Department realizes that any steps to be taken with respect to the proposal for an American-directed intelligence organization in China are a matter for action by your [two lines redacted under exemption B1] appropriate officers of the Department. Sincerely yours, Fisher Howe Deputy" An editorial summary from The Black Vault's archive entry notes that this document references a proposal for a United States-directed intelligence organization in China, specifically Taiwan, made by a Chinese national to an officer of the American Consulate General in Hong Kong. The State Department deferred action on this proposal to the Central Intelligence Agency. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more declassified documents, visit storyflo.com, and find this document at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00370/CI00370djvu.txt.

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-004Declassified

Filed NOV 9 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Today, We Examine A Top Secret Letter From The Department Of State

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 9, 2026

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This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Top Secret letter from the Department of State, dated July sixth, nineteen-fifty, concerning a proposal for a United States-directed intelligence organization in Taiwan. This document offers a glimpse into early American intelligence planning regarding China.

Date: NOV 9 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Today, We Examine A Top Secret Letter From The Department Of State about?: This is Declassified. Today, we examine a Top Secret letter from the Department of State, dated July sixth, nineteen-fifty, concerning a proposal for a United States-directed intelligence organization in Taiwan. This document offers a glimpse into early American intelligence planning regarding China.
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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CIA Today, We Examine A Top Secret Letter From The Department Of State

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