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

202. Draft Central Intelligence Group Memorandum⁰

Washington, undated.

MATERIAL PROPOSED BY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE FOR INCLUSION IN THE PRESIDENT’S “STATE OF THE UNION” MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, JANUARY 1947

The vital and urgent need of this nation for effective foreign intelligence has been amply demonstrated both by our pre-war and war-time experiences. This need has been recognized in the Congress by a number of bipartisan committee recommendations. During this atomic age in which the United States has pledged its fullest energies to the establishment and maintenance of a just and lasting peace, our statesmen who are charged with this heavy responsibility must not be asked to steer the ship of state over an uncharted course. The difficult and far-reaching decisions they are called upon to make must be based upon a clear knowledge and understanding of present and probable future developments in other countries if we are to live with them in peace and security. We have also learned from bitter experience that responsibility must be placed on one agency to ensure that this essential information pertaining to our interests in foreign lands is collected, interpreted and distributed to appropriate officials in cooperation with existing facilities such as the Foreign Service. Therefore, in line with the apparent desires of the Congress and in view of the demonstrated urgency, I directed last January the establishment of a National Intelligence Authority composed of the Secretaries of State, War and the Navy and my personal representative, Fleet Admiral Leahy, to plan, develop and coordinate all Federal foreign intelligence activities. To assist this Authority, there was created a Central Intelligence Group under a Director of Central Intelligence who was charged with performing those intelligence services of common concern which could be more efficiently accomplished centrally, including coordination of departmental intelligence activities, and the production and dissemination to appropriate Government officials of strategic and national policy intelligence. This organization during its year of existence has clearly proved itself an effective and essential instrument of Government. To realize its full capabilities, however, this agency should have the benefit of permanent authorization from the Congress. I therefore urgently recommend that Congress give early consideration to the passage of enabling legislation for the National Intelligence Authority and a Central Intelligence Agency so that never in the future will our national interests or security be placed in jeopardy for lack of accurate and timely intelligence concerning foreign developments.

[Here follows the text of Document 201.]

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90–00610R, Box 1, Folder 3. Secret. The source text, attached to a copy of Document 201, may be the document referred to in Vandenberg’s office diary for December 9, 1946, which notes: “went to see Mr. Clifford at the White House with the article for the President’s ‘State of the Union’ speech to find out if he approved our project of advocating immediate legislation.” (Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 80–01731R, Box 31, Folder 1) Vandenberg also alluded to the possible inclusion of a recommendation for intelligence legislation in the State of the Union message in his January 8 conversation with Clifford; see Document 203.