Office of the Historian

36. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Smith to Secretary of Defense Marshall1

Washington, December 26, 1950.

SUBJECT

  • Support Required by the Central Intelligence Agency from the Department of Defense

REFERENCE

  • Your Memorandum dated 27 November 1950, Subject: Present Status of United States Intelligence2
1.
This Agency will make a maximum effort and will coordinate the collective efforts of all intelligence agencies toward attainment of the objectives set forth in reference memorandum. Defense plans cannot be based, however, on the assumption that timely warning of Soviet attack can be assured.
2.
The following is a general statement of the support needed by the Central Intelligence Agency from the Department of Defense:
a.
Assignment to CIA of one or two officers each from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, well qualified to assist in preparing national intelligence estimates.
b.
[1 paragraph (7 lines) not declassified]
c.
[1 paragraph (7 lines) not declassified]
d.
[1 paragraph (2 lines) not declassified]
e.
[1 paragraph (8 lines) not declassified]
f.
Clarification of the relationship between representatives of CIA and the theater commanders in theaters of operations to insure that details of operations, covert personnel, and other highly sensitive material are known to a minimum number of individuals.
g.
Arrangements by which CIA will be kept fully informed of those operational decisions and plans of the JCS which have a direct or indirect bearing on the functions of CIA. For the present, we believe that this would require providing this Agency, for carefully restricted use, copies of JCS, JIC and other papers bearing upon the duties and responsibilities of CIA.
h.
Establishment of a permanent liaison between the JCS and appropriate elements of CIA, including a method for furnishing advice and guidance on essential elements of information which are considered of paramount importance for intelligence collection efforts.
3.
The above are general statements of the requirements for the Central Intelligence Agency and indicate the major principles on which it is necessary to establish agreement between CIA and the JCS on the methods of support of this Agency.
Walter B. Smith
3
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Operations, Job 80–01795R, Box 3. Top Secret.↩
  2. Document 32.↩
  3. Printed from a copy that indicates Smith signed the original.↩