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

132. Letter From the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg) to Secretary of State Byrnes⁰

Washington, January 3, 1947.

Dear Mr. Secretary: As you are aware, arrangements have been completed for the withdrawal from Latin America of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who have been performing intelligence duties as legal attachés of the various diplomatic missions in South and Central America and in the Caribbean area. Representatives of the Central Intelligence Group will take over the intelligence duties in Latin America which have been performed by the FBI since 1942. In order that the continuity of intelligence operations in Latin America shall not be prejudiced, arrangements have been made with Mr. J. Edgar Hoover to the effect that legal attachés representing the FBI shall not depart from their posts of duty until such time as qualified and trained CIG representatives shall arrive at the respective capitals in the American Republics.

I am transmitting to you herewith a schedule¹ setting forth the dates when CIG representatives will arrive for duty in the various Latin American countries. This schedule has also been supplied to the FBI, which has indicated that an FBI representative will be present at each post when the local attaché relinquishes his duties and the CIG representative takes over. Mr. Daniel DeBardaleben, of CIG, will proceed to Latin America and his trip will follow the itinerary and schedule attachéd hereto. Mr. DeBardaleben has my entire confidence and he is completely familiar with the arrangements which have been made as between the FBI and the CIG in regard to the latter’s assumption of intelligence duties in the American Republics.

Mr. Frederick B. Lyon, Director of the Office of Controls of the Department of State, and Mr. Jack D. Neal, Chief of the Division of Foreign Activity Correlation of the Department, have worked closely with the appropriate representatives of CIG in the implementation of the arrangements looking forward to the assumption by CIG of intelligence duties in Latin America. Both Mr. Lyon and Mr. Neal are not only entirely familiar with the Intelligence activities of the FBI in Latin America but are also being kept completely informed as to CIG plans to assume intelligence operations in that area.

The purpose of this communication is not only to advise you of the foregoing, but also to suggest that you may care to appoint a representative of the Department of State to accompany Mr. DeBardaleben and Mr. J. Edgar Hoover’s representative, in order that the Department of State may be represented in each case when the CIG representative is installed in the various diplomatic missions in South and Central America and in the Caribbean area. The CIG representatives who have been selected and who are currently being trained for duty in the American Republics are, I believe, excellently qualified for their duties. I wish to assure you that I consider the CIG intelligence commitment in the American Republics as second to none in importance and significance, and that CIG representatives who will shortly proceed to their posts of duty in South and Central America and in the Caribbean area are being instructed to cooperate in every way possible with the various chiefs of diplomatic missions in the Latin American capitals, with a view to obtaining the best possible results and integration of the intelligence effort.

Respectfully yours,

Hoyt S. Vandenberg ²

Lieutenant General, USA

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/CSG–2227, Job 83–00739R, Box 2, Folder 3. No classification marking.
1. Not printed; see the Supplement.
2. Printed from a copy that indicates Vandenberg signed the original.