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

343. Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Souers) to Allen W. Dulles, Mathias F. Correa, and William H. Jackson⁰

Washington, March 17, 1948.

SUBJECT

• Survey of the Central Intelligence Agency

1. I have already sent you a memorandum¹ with the terms of the resolution of the National Security Council providing that a survey should be made of the activities of the Central Intelligence Agency and its relationship to other Departments and Agencies.

2. As a result of our further discussions on this subject, it may be helpful if I set forth my understanding regarding the scope of the survey and the procedures to be followed.

3. The survey will comprise primarily a thorough and comprehensive examination of the structure, administration, activities and inter-agency relationships of the Central Intelligence Agency as outlined in the resolution of the National Security Council. It will also include an examination of such intelligence activities of other Government Departments and Agencies as relate to the national security, in order to make recommendations for their effective operation and over-all coordination, subject to the understanding that the group will not engage in an actual physical examination of departmental intelligence operations (a) outside of Washington or (b) in the collection of communications intelligence. On behalf of the National Security Council I will undertake to seek the cooperation in this survey of those Government Departments and Agencies not represented on the Council which have an interest in intelligence as relates to national security.

4. It should be understood that the survey of the Central Intelligence Agency and its relationship to other Departments and Agencies will be done for and with the authority of the National Security Council. The survey of the intelligence activities of the Departments of State, the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, however, will be for and with the authority of the respective heads of those Departments.

5. The survey group will submit from time to time recommendations on individual problems which need to be brought to the attention of the Council or the heads of the respective Departments and Agencies concerned. Problems concerning CIA will be given priority over those involving other Agencies. It is contemplated that the survey will be completed and final report submitted on or before January 1, 1949.

6. It is my understanding that at your request Mr. Forrestal has agreed to lend to the investigating group the services of Mr. Robert Blum to head the staff work. I would appreciate the group’s advice as to additional staff members it may require in order that I may clear them for this work. The members of the staff, when cleared by the heads of the Agencies concerned, will be given access to information and facilities required for the survey in the same manner as provided for your group in the Council’s resolution.

7. Compensation and expenses for the members of the investigating group and its staff will be paid for out of funds available to the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency.

8. I will be pleased to render so far as practicable any further assistance which you may require in conducting your survey.

Sidney W. Souers ²

0. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Executive Secretariat, NSC Files: Lot 66 D 148. The source text is Annex 2 of the Survey Group Terms of Reference II report to the National Security Council entitled “The Central Intelligence Agency and National Organization for Intelligence,” January 1, 1949.
1. Document 340.
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.