FONECON BETWEEN (Sanitized), DIA AND LTC WATT, 13 NOV 80

CIA-STARGATE

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This memorandum is a summary of a phone conversation between the author (SG1J) and LTC Watt on November 13, 1980. The conversation was about Dr. Hal Puthoff and the issues he was facing at SRI-I, including lack of funds and potential staff cuts. Dr. Puthoff mentioned that the money from ACSI had not arrived, and he needed to make a decision on personnel. SG1J assured Dr. Puthoff that efforts were being made to expedite funds and encouraged him to firm up planned proposals. The author also mentioned the possibility of CIA and NSA providing funding for the project. Lastly, LTC Watt informed SG1J that he planned to visit SRI-I in early December to show their commitment to future contract work.

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Body:  Approved For Release 20^l                  0788ROO2000250052-7
 SG1J
 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
 SUBJECT: FONECON Between                      and LTC Watt, 13 Nov 80
 SG1J        1.  (U) At 1545 hrs, 13 Nov 80, I called                       and informed
 him that I had just talked to Dr. Hal Puthoff, SRI-I.
 SG1J        2.  (S) I told - that Dr. Puthoff had raised the following issues with
 SG1J
 me and I thought it prudent to pass them on to him
 a.  ( S-)  Dr. Puthoff and his immediate associates were being forced to
 take leave by SRI-I management due to lack of contraciural funds being  made
 available.  I do not know exact status of Puthoff, Targ, etc...whether they
 are on administrative leave, leave without pay or regular leave.
 b.  ( S:)  Dr. Puthoff stated that the money from ACSI (50K) had not
 arrived. I assured him that the 50K had been transferred from ACSI to FTD and
 all concerned were doing their best to expedite the funds to SRI-I.
 c.  (S')   Dr. Puthoff then informed me that by the end of this month
 he would have to make a decision on the number of personnel that would have to
 be dropped from their program.  He explained that the contractural effort
 currently being staffed by DoD would not be sufficient to cover the expenses
 of his current group for a complete year.    Either the size of the staff had
 to be cut, stated Puthoff, or more monies had to be put into the effort.
 Although I understood his problem, I informed Dr. Puthoff that there was nothing
 However
 ,
 I could do as far as obtaining additional dollars for his program.
 I assured him that I would, again, stress the need to get currently planned
 proposals firmed up and get money into the system as soon as possible.
 SG1J      3.  (S/NOFORN)  I told          that he might want to let Dr. Vorona know about
 e
 u
 1.1
 I) and see if things really were that bad.  Further, I reminde
 t SRI
 -
 rep a
 SG1J      - that we had indications that CIA and NSA micbt be willing to put some
 money into the project.  If so, maybe Dr. Vorona could pursue that angle and
 advise Dr. Puthoff of the results.
 SG1J        4.  ( C)  Finally, I told- that I was going ahead with my plans to
 visit SRI-I in early Dec 80.  He suggested the earlier the better....if for no
 other reason than to show SRI-I management that DoD was really serious about
 future contract work.
 (,d
 YV
 MURRAB. WATT
 LTC, MI
 INSCOM GRILL FLAME
 Project Manager
 IQT    A$ABLE To FOREIGN NATIONALS
 Approved For Release 2
 SG1J
 GRILL FLAME
 -0=8RO0200025  '6201-ISH
 DTG:  051630ZJ L 78
 REVIEW ON: November 2000