56. Letter From the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Bradley) to Director of Central Intelligence Smith1
Dear General Smith:
I have read your letter (TS #43690) of 2 March 19512 with interest, and note that you are preparing a statement for submittal to the Joint Chiefs of Staff giving your estimate of the support required from the Department of Defense in order to meet your responsibilities in the field of operations.
The assets which may be generated by requirements for operations in the cold war can be expected to be of proportionate value in case overt global war should intervene, and for some time all of us have been acquiring a considerable body of experience in learning the mechanics of dealing with the complex elements that are involved.
It seems to me that much of the support which is visualized in the enclosures to your letter can be provided by arrangements which have already been set in motion and are well advanced. This leads me to hope that we will not have too much difficulty in handling the situation within the current framework, but it is, of course, a proper subject for further exploration and discussion with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Financing appears to be a matter between you and the Congress, but you may be assured that I shall support your efforts to obtain funds for any conception of your plans and operations which has been accepted by Defense.
Sincerely,
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry, Job 95–G00278R, Box 1, Folder 9. Top Secret.↩
- Document 54.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Bradley signed the original.↩