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

9. Memorandum From the Director of the Office of Strategic Services (Donovan) to President Truman⁰

Washington, September 13, 1945.

1. I understand that it has been, or will be, suggested to you that certain of the primary functions of this organization, more particularly, secret intelligence, counter-espionage, and the evaluation and synthesis of intelligence—that these functions be severed and transferred to separate agencies. I hope that in the national interest, and in your own interest as the Chief Executive, that you will not permit this to be done.

2. Whatever agency has the duty of intelligence should have it as a complete whole. To do otherwise would be to add chaos to existing confusion in the intelligence field. The various functions that have been integrated are the essential functions in intelligence. One is dependent upon the other.¹

Donovan

0. Source: Truman Library, Miscellaneous Material Filed by the Administrative Asst. in the President’s Office, Office of Strategic Services. No classification marking. Donovan saw the President on September 13, but only for a brief ceremonial occasion. (Ibid., President’s Appointment Book, File of Matthew Connelly) Also reproduced in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman, p. 3.
1. According to Harold Smith’s diary, he told Truman on September 13 that Donovan “was storming about our proposal to divide his intelligence service.” Truman told Smith that he had in mind a “broad intelligence service attached to the President’s Office,” and that the Bureau of the Budget should recommend “dissolution of Donovan’s outfit even if Donovan did not like it.” Smith agreed with Truman’s view but stated that he had wanted to check with the President before the Bureau of the Budget went ahead with its work. (Roosevelt Library, Papers of Harold Smith, Box No. 4, Conferences with President Truman, September 13, 1945) See the Supplement.