Office of the Historian

88. Memorandum From the Assistant Secretary of State for Administration (Russell) to Secretary of State Byrnes0

Washington, April 18, 1946.

I am satisfied that no compromise of existing Departmental differences with respect to the organization of the Office of Research and Intelligence is possible at the working levels. The discussions now in process hold no substantial promise of reaching a settlement of the basic issues involved and will in all probability result in the reopening of the controversy with renewed bitterness.

I believe that in the best interests of the Department this issue must be promptly and finally determined. On February 25, 1946, I submitted to you my report on this matter, together with my recommendations as to its final disposition.1 I reaffirm the conclusion and recommendations of that report.

Donald Russell
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 58 D 776, Birth of the Intelligence Organization in the Department of State. No classification marking. Also sent to Under Secretary Acheson. For a copy of Panuch’s handwritten note to McCormack enclosing a copy of Russell’s memorandum (ibid.), see the Supplement.↩
  2. Document 85.↩