Office of the Historian

115. Minutes of a Meeting of the Intelligence Advisory Committee1

IAC–M–73
Washington, June 5, 1952.

Director of Central Intelligence

General Walter Bedell Smith Presiding*2

Deputy Director (Intelligence)

Central Intelligence Agency Mr. Loftus E. Becker Presiding*

[Page 279]

MEMBERS PRESENT

  • Mr. W. Park Armstrong, Jr., Special Assistant, Intelligence, Department of State
  • Brigadier General John Weckerling, acting for Assistant Chief of Staff, G–2, Department of the Army
  • Rear Admiral Felix L. Johnson, Director of Naval Intelligence, Department of the Navy
  • Colonel Edward H. Porter, acting for Director of Intelligence, Headquarters, United States Air Force
  • *Dr. Malcolm C. Henderson, acting for Director of Intelligence, Atomic Energy Commission
  • Brigadier General Richard C. Partridge, Deputy Director for Intelligence, The Joint Staff
  • Mr. Victor P. Keay, acting for Assistant to the Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation

ALSO PRESENT

  • Dr. Sherman Kent, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. Robert Amory, Jr., Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. Ralph Clark, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. R. J. Sontag, Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. Paul Borel, Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. Ludwell L. Montague, Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. Edgar Hoover, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. William P. Bundy, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. Chester Cooper, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. Harold Ford, Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. Richard Drain, Central Intelligence Agency
  • *Mr. [name not declassified], Central Intelligence Agency
  • Mr. William C. Trueheart, Department of State
  • Mr. R. M. Scammon, Department of State
  • Mr. Mose L. Harvey, Department of State
  • Mr. Joseph A. Yeager, Department of State
  • Colonel O. B. Sykes, Department of the Army
  • Lieut. Colonel H. N. Maples, Department of the Army
  • Captain Ray Malpass, USN, Department of the Navy
  • Colonel Charles F. Gillis, Department of the Air Force
  • Colonel S. M. Lansing, The Joint Staff
  • Colonel John D. Tolman, The Joint Staff
James Q. Reber
3
Secretary

Approval of Minutes

1.

Action: The minutes of the last meeting, 29 May 1952, (IAC–M–72) were approved.4 [Page 280]

RDB Request for Intelligence Estimate of Soviet Scientific and Technological Capabilities (IAC–D–51)5

2.
Action: Agreed that the RDB request would be met by the JIC if this proved to be within the latter’s capability. In this event it was understood that the JIC would arrange for the RDB promptly to withdraw their request on the DCI.
3.
Discussion: It was pointed out that the JIC had a study now in progress (JIC 603/1)6 which was along the lines of the RDB request. It was thought probable that with some adaptation this study would satisfy the RDB request and also serve as a scientific and technological contribution for NIE–65.7 General Smith stated that a component of the Defense Department, such as RDB, should, where possible, get its intelligence support from the military intelligence agencies. The DCI satisfies the intelligence requirements of the NSC and, although willing to satisfy a need of such organizations as RDB, if practicable, will be glad to have such needs satisfied elsewhere. In response to a question General Smith agreed that CIA components would be willing to give informal assistance to the military analysts, to the extent that was practicable in the light of their other duties, but made it clear that CIA does not participate in JIC estimates and assumes no responsibility therefor. If it should develop that the JIC could not without outside contributions meet the RDB need and the RDB request is not withdrawn, then the DCI stated he would expect to try to satisfy the request on a community basis.

[Omitted here is discussion of other subjects.]

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Community Management Staff, Job 82–00400R, Box 1. Secret; Security Information. The meeting was held in the DCI’s conference room.↩
  2. Asterisks refer to footnote in the original minutes reading, “For part of the meeting.”↩
  3. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩
  4. IAC minutes are in Central Intelligence Agency, Community Management Staff Job 82–00400R, Box 1.↩
  5. Not found.↩
  6. Not found.↩
  7. NIE 65, “Soviet Bloc Capabilities Through 1957,” approved June 16, 1953. (National Archives, RG 263, Central Intelligence Agency Files)↩