Foreign Relations of the United States, 1945–1950, Emergence of the Intelligence Establishment

126. Memorandum for Record⁰

Washington, August 19, 1946.

REFERENCE

• Letter to the Attorney General from NIA dated 8 August 46¹

At 1045 this date the undersigned talked with Mr. Douglas McGregor, Acting Attorney General, concerning the reference letter.

Mr. McGregor stated that the Attorney General had informed him that the F.B.I. would not withdraw from Latin American countries until the Central Intelligence Group had been able to furnish replacements and arrange an orderly transfer. Mr. McGregor said that he understood no formal reply to the reference letter was to be made since the above decision of the Attorney General was already known.

The undersigned expressed the belief that no reply was necessary if the N.I.A. could be assured that the request in the reference letter would be honored. Mr. McGregor reaffirmed the fact that the Attorney General had agreed to this request.

James S. Lay, Jr.

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/CSG–2227, Job 83–00739R, Box 2, Folder 3. Secret.
1. Document 120.