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

290. Memorandum From the Director of the Policy Planning Staff (Kennan) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett) and Secretary of State Marshall⁰

Washington, June 17, 1948.

With further reference to the draft of NSC 10/1¹ which is on the agenda of today’s meeting of the National Security Council, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have now examined this paper and have asked that paragraph 4 be re-drafted as follows:

“4. In time of war or national emergency or when the President directs, all plans for covert operations shall be coordinated with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the execution of covert operations in military theaters shall be under the control of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

I find this wording reasonable and appropriate, from the standpoint of this Department.

George F. Kennan ²

0. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Policy Planning Staff Files 1947–53: Lot 64 D 563, Box 719, Pol & Psych Warfare. Top Secret.
1. See the enclosure to Document 288.
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.