Reading Room Document

Interpretation of Executive Order No. 10501 regarding classified information

This brief memo advised that while Executive Order No. 10501 of November 5, 1953 applied only to “information which requires protection in the interests of national defense,” it recognized that certain non-defense information would also require protection, albeit not under the classification scheme set forth in the Order. The memo “strongly suggested” that, for such information, the Foreign Operations Administration use terms such as “For official use only,” “For staff use only,” or “For U.S. Government use only” to indicate any necessary restrictions.

December 17, 1953