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

220. Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the National Intelligence Authority⁰

Washington, September 11, 1947.

SUBJECT

• National Security Act of 1947¹

1. Upon the coming into effect of the National Security Act of 1947, the National Intelligence Authority automatically ceases to exist and the Central Intelligence Agency comes under the National Security Council.² Inasmuch as no date has been set for a meeting of the National Security Council to carry on the work of the National Intelligence Authority, the following suggestions and recommendations are made:

a. At the first meeting of the National Security Council, it is recommended that all directives of the National Intelligence Authority and the Central Intelligence Group be continued in full force and effect until the National Security Council has had an opportunity to study the problem and to make amendments and changes that they may consider desirable.

b. In order that the National Security Council make an early approach to this problem, it is recommended that the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency be directed to submit, within sixty days, his proposal for National Security Council directives to bring former directives of the National Intelligence Authority and the Central Intelligence Group into line with the National Security Act of 1947.

c. In consideration of the size of the National Security Council, as compared to the National Intelligence Authority, it is recommended that a subcommittee be established to act similarly to the National Intelligence Authority to furnish the active direction of the Central Intelligence Agency. This subcommittee should be composed of a minimum number of members and, as a suggestion, could be either the Secretary of State and the Secretary of National Defense, or the Secretary of State, Secretary of National Defense, and the three Secretaries of Army, Navy and Air Force. Personally, I believe the first suggestion is better since the Secretary of State has equal representation with the military. If the second suggestion is followed, there may be some complaints from State that the military is overshadowing them.

2. The Director of the Central Intelligence Group sat as a non-voting member of the National Intelligence Authority, and, while I believe it presumptuous and awkward on my part to suggest that he so sit with the National Security Council, still it would be of utmost assistance if he could attend all meetings of the National Security Council in some capacity, either as observer, counsel or advisor, in order to keep informed of what the thoughts of the National Security Council may be. In addition, by being present, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency would also be available for such direct questions as may be propounded.

3. If you will indicate your approval or disapproval of the suggestions and recommendations above, I shall go ahead and have formal statements prepared to be furnished to the National Security Council at its first meeting.

R.H. Hillenkoetter

Rear Admiral, USN

0. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Leahy Papers, No. 129. Confidential. The source text carries a handwritten annotation “Approved by Adm Leahy 20 Sept 1947.” Another copy of this memorandum is in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman, pp. 137–138.
1. For a photographic copy of the National Security Act of 1947, approved July 26, see ibid., pp. 131–135.
2. On September 19, after the act had come into effect, Hillenkoetter addressed a briefer version of this memorandum to the NSC; see Document 222.