Office of the Historian

238. Memorandum From the Secretary of State’s Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence (Armstrong) to Acting Secretary of State Lovett0

Washington, January 11, 1949.

SUBJECT

  • Attached letter re Proposed Revisions to CIA Legislation

Discussion:

1.
The proposed revision of CIA enabling legislation involves two major subjects of interest to the Department: an exception to the normal [Page 609] immigration procedures, and administrative arrangements for CIA overseas personnel.
2.
With respect to the immigration clause which permits the bringing into the United States of up to 100 individuals without regard to immigration statutes, the following is pertinent:
(a)
In discussion with Admiral Hillenkoetter, it is understood that you gave informal approval to this clause.
(b)
The Visa Division has concurred in this clause of the legislation and, in fact, in consultation with CIA representatives has suggested improvements in the phraseology which have been adopted by the CIA according to the attachment.
3.
With respect to the administrative clauses:
(a)
These were approved a year ago when almost identical legislation was put forward by the CIA; it was, in fact, only with the immigration clause that the Department found exception.
(b)
The specific grants in powers of this legislation are being sought by the CIA now as a result of requests by the General Accounting Office, and are in accordance with their specifications. It is understood that the Bureau of the Budget also concurs in the need for such modifications to the CIA enabling legislation.
(c)
On the whole, the legislation tends to legalize procedures which have been followed in the past two years and which are intended to make the administration of CIA overseas personnel as much like the administration of Foreign Service personnel as is possible.

Recommendation:

That you sign the attached letter concurring in the CIA legislation.

Attachment1

Letter From Acting Secretary of State Lovett to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget (Webb)

My Dear Mr. Webb: The Department has received your letter of December 24,2 in which comment is requested by the Bureau of the Budget on the “Proposed Central Intelligence Act of 1949” admitted by the Central Intelligence Agency.

[Page 610]

The Department perceives no objection to this proposed legislation. You will note that one clause, 6(g), has been revised in consultation with CIA, according to the attachment.

The Department believes that despite the extraordinary grant of powers involved, such legislation is entirely proper and necessary for the efficient operation of an intelligence service.

Sincerely yours,3

  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945–49, 101.5/12–2948. No classification marking. Drafted by Fisher Howe and approved by EUR, OFS, CON, ODA, ORP, L/A, and C/L.↩
  2. Drafted by Fisher Howe on January 11.↩
  3. Not found.↩
  4. Printed from an unsigned copy.↩