WASHINGTON—When It was disclosed last September that the Central Intelligence Agency had spent $8‐million to “destabilize” the Government Chile under Salvador Allende, President Ford confirmed at a press conference that the United States does take “certain actions in the intelligence field.” Mr. Ford added: “The 40 Committee… reviews every covert operation undertaken by our Government.”

It was an extraordinary public reference by a Chief Executive to one of the least‐known, most shadowy and potentially most powerful committees of the Government. At least in theory, the 40 Committee must approve in advance before the C.I.A. can invade Cuba, overthrow a government in Guatemala, or dispatch B‐26 aircraft to bomb Indonesia.

But there has been no indication that the 40 Committee has the responsibility to review any domestic covert operations by the C.I.A. itself, of the kind now being investigated—since the intelligence agency has claimed it does not engage in such activities at home For example, when Senator Stuart Symington asked Mr. Colby in 1973 whether the 40 Committee in any way dealt with intelligence “targeted at U.S. citizens” the C.I.A. director replied, “No, the function of the Agency is foreign intelligence.”

The operations of the 40 Committee are so secret that in his Senate testimony, Mr. Colby was reluctant even to identify the chairman, who, as it turned out, was a well‐known public figure:

Senator Symington: “Very well. What is the name of the latest committee of this character?” Mr. Colby: “Forty Committee.”