The GRILLE infrared spectrometer was part of the shuttle payload during the first ATLAS mission in March-April 1992. This experiment measured the vertical distribution of several important minor constituents in the middle to high atmosphere by solar occultation mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy. Among the molecules observed is the stratospheric chlorine reservoir species HCl. This paper discusses the vertical profiles measured, including their validation with respect to correlative measurements from ATMOS on board the same mission and from HALOE on board UARS. The most important conclusion drawn from the measured HCl volume mixing ratio of (3.6¿0.2) ppbv above 50 km presently measured by GRILLE in comparison with published ATMOS data from 1985 is that the actual GRILLE data confirm the increase of the upper stratospheric total chlorine loading by about 40% with respect to 1985, as reported and/or predicted earlier.¿ 1997 American Geophysical Union