85. Memorandum for the Record by the Deputy Director for Plans of the Central Intelligence Agency (Wisner)1
SUBJECT
- Consideration of the JCS memorandum concerning the “Magnitude Paper” by ad hoc committee of NSC Senior Staff
This memorandum will record the highlights of a meeting of the ad hoc committee of the NSC Senior Staff which was held in Mr. Lay’s office on 27 August to consider the JCS memorandum to the Secretary of Defense2 commenting upon and proposing certain revisions of the NSC Staff paper on this subject.3 The following individuals were present at the meeting: Mr. Lay and Mr. Gleason (NSC); Messrs. Bohlen and Joyce (State); Mr. Nash and General Magruder (Defense); Admiral Wooldridge (JCS); Mr. Gray (PSB); and Messrs. Jackson and Wisner (CIA).
In the outset of the meeting it became evident that the majority if not all of those present considered the JCS memorandum to be confusing and obscure. Numerous questions were addressed to Admiral Wooldridge in the effort to obtain clarifications of various points in the JCS paper. For example, Mr. Lay stated and others agreed that they could not understand the intent of the changes made by the JCS paper [Page 199] in paragraph 1c of the NSC Staff paper. These changes propose the deletion of the words “facilitate covert and guerrilla operations” and the substitution of “provide assistance to underground resistance movements and guerrillas”; and the deletion of the words “insure availability of these forces in the event of war” and the substitution of “to provide the base upon which the military may expand these forces on a military basis in time of war within activated theaters of operation”. It was concluded that the original language should remain unchanged in the absence of any clear reason for changing it. However it was agreed to add the following language to the end of the original paragraph 1c:
“… insure availability of these forces in the event of war for utilization in accordance with principles established by the National Security Council, including wherever practicable provision of a base upon which the military may expand these forces on a military basis in time of war within active theaters of operation.” (underscored language added)4
Mr. Nash proceeded to analyze the JCS memorandum and made the point that the paper in its entire latter portions dealt with matters which were not suitable for inclusion in an NSC paper but which should be the subject matter of internal Defense Department determination and disposition. Mr. Nash recommended that the attention of the meeting be focused on the forepart of the paper to the exclusion of the very detailed administrative provisions of the latter paragraphs. It was agreed that Mr. Nash’s recommendation was sound and that the latter paragraphs of the paper should be the subject of consideration and decision within the Department of Defense and the military services. Presumably there would be an opportunity for CIA to participate in the deliberations leading to the development of the Defense Department position and papers covering the administrative provisions.
Admiral Wooldridge urged on behalf of the JCS that two changes be made in the paper in order to take into account and adequately reflect the points of chief concern to the JCS. He proposed the addition of a new paragraph 2 in the paper to read as follows:
“Direct the Psychological Strategy Board to assure that its strategic concept for a national psychological program includes provision for covert operations designed to achieve the objectives stated in paragraph 1 above.”
It was agreed to adopt this paragraph in order to make manifest within the paper the responsibility of the Psychological Strategy Board for insuring that the specified objectives should be provided for in the strategic plan which it is required to develop under the directive which [Page 200] sets up the PSB. It was understood that nothing in the new paragraph would require the submission to and approval by the PSB of existing programs and activities of the CIA in order for these to proceed or obtain the necessary support of the Defense establishment.
Admiral Wooldridge’s other point was that paragraph 2c should be changed to provide that the PSB would coordinate the provision of personnel, funds and other support to the CIA by the Departments of State and Defense, rather than insure the provision of such support. Admiral Wooldridge contended that the PSB as such had no authority to “insure” the provision of support by the other departments. Mr. Jackson while acknowledging the technical accuracy of Admiral Wooldridge’s point nevertheless maintained that the assurance of support for the CIA was essential from the point of view of the Director of CIA, and that whatever words might be added it should be very clear that the CIA should not be called upon to execute programs without the assurance that the necessary support would be forthcoming. Mr. Jackson’s position was fully supported by all present at the meeting and it was agreed to adopt the following language to give expression to the technical point raised by Admiral Wooldridge:
“Coordinating action to insure the provision of adequate personnel …”—continues as original.
There being no other points offered or suggested by Admiral Wooldridge or any others at the meeting, it was agreed that the above indicated changes would be all that were necessary. Mr. Nash indicated that he would recommend to the Secretary of Defense that the latter send forward to Mr. Lay a statement to the effect that the NSC Senior Staff paper is approved by the Department of Defense subject only to the three indicated changes in language.
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Deputy Director for Operations, Job 79–01228A, Box 6. Top Secret. Drafted on August 29. The original was sent to Jackson; copies were sent to Dulles (DD/CI) and Johnston (AD/PC). All ellipses in the original.↩
- Document 83.↩
- Document 76.↩
- Printed here as italics.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Wisner signed the original.↩