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

127. Letter From the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Hoover) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg)⁰

Washington, August 19, 1946.

Dear General Vandenberg: Reference is made to the letter of Colonel Edwin K. Wright of the Central Intelligence Group directed to me on August 7, 1946,¹ which attached a schedule for the transfer of responsibility for intelligence coverage from the FBI to the CIG in Latin America. I must advise that the dates set forth in this schedule for transfer of responsibility, that is, February 15, 1947, for the first group of countries, April 1, 1947, for the second group, and May 15, 1947, for the third group, make the position of the FBI in Latin America rather difficult. Operations under the limited scope and the restrictions necessary incidental to complete withdrawal make difficult efficient and productive operations over an extended period. The FBI personnel involved in Latin American operations are critically needed in connection with our domestic responsibilities and I am most anxious to return them to the domestic field.

I had hoped that the CIG would be able to take over responsibility in the first group of countries by September 15, 1946; in the second group by November 1, 1946; and the remainder by January 1, 1947. As you will note, this would give approximately six months from the time of the issuance of the directive to the Central Intelligence Group for the orderly transfer of responsibility from the FBI to the CIG in Latin America. I would appreciate your further consideration in this matter and your advice as to any adjustments that can be made in the schedule.²

With best wishes and kind regards,

Sincerely yours,

J. Edgar Hoover

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/CSG–2227, Job 83–00739R, Box 2, Folder 3. Strictly Confidential.
1. Not printed. (Ibid.) See the Supplement.
2. In Vandenberg’s September 3 reply to Hoover he asserted that “it would not be possible in any case to approximate the dates you mention,…for the three areas indicated.” (Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/CSG–2227, Job 83–00739R, Box 2, Folder 3) See the Supplement.