118. Minutes of the Fifth Meeting of the National Intelligence Authority0
PARTICIPANTS
- Members Present
- Acting Secretary of State Dean Acheson, in the Chair
- Secretary of War Robert P. Patterson
- Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal
- Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, Personal Representative of the President
- Colonel Donald H. Galloway, USA, representing the Director of Central Intelligence
- Also Present
- Assistant Secretary of State Donald Russell
- Assistant Secretary of State Spruille Braden
- Colonel William A. Eddy, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Research and Intelligence
- Colonel Charles W. McCarthy, USA
- Captain Robert L. Dennison, USN
- Secretariat
- Colonel Donald H. Galloway, USA, acting for Mr. James S. Lay, Jr., Secretary, N.I.A.
1. Withdrawal of F.B.I. Representatives From Latin America
Mr. Russell stated that the Department of State was very much concerned over the intention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to withdraw its representatives from Latin America prior to the time that the personnel of the Central Intelligence Group could properly replace them.1 He outlined the understanding of the Department of State that the F.B.I. was obligated to remain in Latin America until June 30, 1947, if necessary.
Admiral Leahy indicated that that was the understanding of the National Intelligence Authority, and he was surprised to learn that the F.B.I. was withdrawing its representatives from the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica by August 16. He inquired as to whether or not General Vandenberg had been informed.
Colonel Galloway stated that General Vandenberg had been informed and that he had requested the Director of the F.B.I. to reconsider [Page 289] his decision and to retain his personnel until the C.I.G. representatives could adequately replace them. However, Mr. Hoover had informed General Vandenberg that this was impracticable.
Mr. Braden stated that he had made efforts to induce the F.B.I. to keep its personnel in these two countries without avail, and that he had also been informed, on August 6, that the F.B.I. was contemplating withdrawing their personnel from Haiti, El Salvador, and Tegucigalpa on 30 September.
Colonel Galloway informed the N.I.A. that the C.I.G., by withdrawing an operative from a European post, was prepared to send him immediately to Costa Rica to replace the F.B.I. agent being withdrawn from that locality; that the Department of State had been advised to this effect, and that the only thing that was preventing the departure of this C.I.G. operative was the processing of his papers by the Department of State.
The National Intelligence Authority:
Directed the representative of the Central Intelligence Group to draft a letter, for the signature of the members of the Authority, to the Attorney General, requesting him to direct the F.B.I. to retain its personnel in the Latin American countries to which presently assigned until C.I.G. personnel could properly replace them. It was also desired that a period of turnover be provided for so that the new organization could be properly oriented and be given contacts in each country.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 11:00 a.m.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Leahy Papers, No. 132. Top Secret. The meeting was held at the Department of State.↩
- See Document 117 and the minutes of the third meeting of the Department of State Advisory Committee on Intelligence, August 6, in the Supplement. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 353, Records of Interdepartmental and Intradepartmental Committees—State Department, Lot File No. 122, Records of the Secretary’s Staff Committee 1944–47)↩