421. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Military Intelligence, War Department General Staff (Bissell0)
Washington, May 8, 1950.
SUBJECT
- Free Flow of Operational Information to CIA
REFERENCE
- (a)
- Circular Memorandum to Standing Committee dated 24 April 19501
- 1.
- For a considerable time this Agency has felt concern over the fact that it does not have access to a great deal of information of essential value for intelligence purposes, which is contained in communications of the Military Departments. On the other hand, the Department of State bends every effort to supply to this Agency all pertinent material. The bulk of the material in question consists of operational cables which are not normally sent to the intelligence agencies of the Military Departments for action, but only for information.
- 2.
- With the purpose of exploring this problem and perhaps obtaining some ideas as to its solution, a meeting was held at CIA on 4 May 1950. Representatives of the Military Departments and of CIA attended. A State Department representative was present as an observer.
- 3.
- It was the consensus of opinion among the representatives of the Military Departments that, if CIA would furnish each of the intelligence agencies concerned with a statement of requirements, their efforts to supply CIA with the needed material would be facilitated. Your endorsement of this approach is requested.
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC–210, Item 16. Confidential. Also sent to the Director of Naval Intelligence and the Director of Intelligence, U.S. Air Force. A copy was sent to the Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence, Department of State.↩
- Not found.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Hillenkoetter signed the original.↩