What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A record on clandestine intelligence collection in the Far East. A letter from the C-I-A Director to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Command, dated February twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-two, it offers a rare glimpse into the early C-I-A's self-assessment of its intelligence gathering capabilities. This document is available at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was declassified and released on December sixth, two-thousand-six, under the Freedom of Information Act. It was approved for release by the C-I-A, and a redacted version can be found in The Black Vault's archive. The letter begins: "Dear Matt: This letter, which is in reply to yours of February second, is, I believe, of sufficient importance to warrant my asking you to read it personally. I am making it as frank and as objective as I can. You refer to two recent studies prepared within your headquarters, one of which analyzes the effectiveness of all the clandestine collection agencies operating within the Far East. It is apparent from your letter that these studies present a very dark picture of the clandestine intelligence effort in your area of command and indicate that all clandestine collection agencies operating in the Far East have failed so far to produce anything approaching adequate intelligence coverage. I would be the first to agree that both the quantity and the quality of the intelligence produced by all sources and agencies in the Far East, including our own, is inadequate and I share your grave concern in this matter. Moreover, the effectiveness of clandestine intelligence operations is relatively low, not only in the Far East but as a matter of general application. Secret intelligence operations, no matter how capably conducted, cannot be relied upon to provide the solution of the intelligence problem. The contribution made by this effort is characteristically spotty, with occasional high points of extreme significance but in the main to be regarded distinctly as a supplementary effort. The experts do not differ widely in their statements as to the percentage of the total which can be expected to come by way of clandestine efforts; and currently we are finding that somewhat less than ten percent of our total take of significant and valuable intelligence is originated by our covert intelligence activities. [four lines redacted under exemption B1] who have been in this business for centuries will admit, when pressed, that their average is at least as low and that the [three lines redacted under exemption B1] cost of producing secret intelligence, essential though it is, is disproportionately higher than other forms. As a matter of fact, however, our sustained and apparently intensified efforts in the covert field have recently shown some very creditable results. [one line redacted under exemption B1] doubts of the identity of any of this information would [one line redacted under exemption B1] to you or to Van…

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.

CIA Today, A Declassified C I A Record On Clandestine Intelligence Collection

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A record on clandestine intelligence collection in the Far East. A letter from the C-I-A Director to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Command, dated February twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-two, it offers a rare glimpse into the early C-I-A's self-assessment of its intelligence gathering capabilities.

Date: OCT 13 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was CIA Today, A Declassified C I A Record On Clandestine Intelligence Collection about?: This is Declassified. Today, a declassified C-I-A record on clandestine intelligence collection in the Far East. A letter from the C-I-A Director to the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Command, dated February twenty-first, nineteen-fifty-two, it offers a rare glimpse into the early C-I-A's self-assessment of its intelligence gathering capabilities.
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, A Declassified C I A Record On Clandestine Intelligence Collection

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