British activity in the Field of "Unidentified Flying Objects"

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While there is no indication that these objects represent a
direct threat to the national defense, there are certain potential
dangers which are related to these sightings. These are:
1.
The difficulty and delay in positive 1dentification
which could weaken the early warning system in alerting defense
in the event of commencement of hostilities.*
2.
The possibillty of mass hysteria whieh might be ~­
posely induced by an enemy at a critical time by faked reports.
3.
The possibillty that the emergency eonmnmications
systems to command headquarters might be seriously overloaded
at a critical time by such reports.
It is believed that the problems of communications confusion and
overload and the serious e:ff'ects of mass hysteria mist be dealt with
outside the intelligence community, and 1t is planned to bring these
matters to the attention of those agencies with whom the prime respon­
sibility appears to rest. With respect to ma.ss hysteria, it is believed
this problem would lie with the Federal. Civil Defense .Administration and/
or the Interdepartmental. Cammittee on Internal Security. Accordingly,
it is planned to bring this to the attention of the FCDA and ICIS through
established channels. With respect to emergency eommm:deatiellS overload­
ing, it is believed that each of the individual Mil.itary Services should
examine this problem. Accordingly, we intend to introduce the subject
at a meeting of the Joint Communications and Electronics Cammittee.
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