CONTROL OF OSS RECORDS

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02833989
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: October 23, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2023
• Case Number: F-2021-01308
• Publication Date: January 30, 1952

_
Approved for Release: 2023/08/07 CO2833989
ILLfi "ow%
UBJECT
30 January 1952
FOR: Deputy Directors CIA
* General Counsel
$ Control of OW Records
Order of 20 September I9IL transferred prsonne1,
and funds of 05,1, to the Department of War, and
Director and of the Joint Chiefs relating to the
one were transferred to the Secretary of War, on
Secretary Patterson created the Strategic services
Director and author:1PM him to preserve the func-
es needed for permanent peacetime purposes under
ry of War. The Assistant Secretary on 26 Sep-
almost autonomous 'toting that the Director
Assistant Secretary and the Deputy Chief of Staff
d activities. Only major questions of policy
be referred to the Assistant Secretary's office.
2. CG wee created by Executive Directtwe on 22 January 1946
On 29 January 1946 the secretary of War issued two directives
to the Assistant Secretary stating that he wanted S,SU liquidated by
30 Jim 1946 end meanwhile to support CIO and prepare to turn its
faeilities over to CIO. Records required by the Director of Central
Intelligence were to be tranaferred to the Office of the Secretary
of War end 0p1ued under the operational control of the Director of
central Xinte liktenee.n
3. cm 3 April 1946 the Acting Secretary of '4=Jer directed the
liquidation of sU by 30 June 1947 and ordered that it be carried
out according to instructions of the pa. During the liquidation
period, SSU was to make available to the nal any facilities be
required/
14, On 28 May 1946 the Assistant Secretary of war dir
to bring its practices into co rormity of those of the War
sent as fir as pose:131e *while still maintainleg the autonomy
your own administration." Those adMinistrative practices not con�
distant with War Department regulations would be carried out as the
Director of cm deemed essential under the direction of the Director
SSU, Subject only to review by the Assistant Secretary of War. SSU
we liquidated as an operating entity effective 19 October 1946.
Approved for Release: 2023/08/07 CO2833989
Approved for Release: 2023/08/07 CO2833989
A -t
.1.11t
On 1 Novber 1946 the XI aaisd that the renai,'1.rg property,
supplies aMequipment of :SU be transfe ed to CIO. 3SU agreed
on 2 November 1946, and it will be noted that records are not
included specifically in the transfer.
5. On 16 April 1947 Colonel Ctelloways Assistant Director,
CIOs was designated Director, S5U, to onrQleto liquidation there-
at. On 5 November 1948 Colonel Pruden, EXecutive Officer, OSU,
VU designated by the War Department WI Director SUs pending
final liquidation.
6. On 25 October 1950 Aseistant Secretary Johnson of the
Army addressed a memorandum to the DC/ stating that the assignment
of additional duties relating to SSU matters to members of CIA
will in the future be a matter of internal ooneern to CIA and will
not require the approval of the Department of the Army. This was
andwored on 1 Noviaber 1950 accepting the transfer of the remain.
int WU functions to CIA and stating that the duties involved are
pmrely a matter of answering correspondence and implying infor-
mations from records available to SsUs primarily on matters related
to OSS. Also on 1 November the Assistant Director, 50, was charged
with responsibility for the remaining functions of SSU.
7. In view of the foregoing, it is our opinion that there
has been no Usual*: of title, in legal concepts of the OSS records
from the Department of Army to CIA but that full operational con.
including release of information, has been granted to CIA
Department of the km. As a practical matter, we believe
records could be authenticated as SCAJ records by either CIA
Amy depending on what is desired in any one case. In the
releaSee or clearances through the Army have been handled by
public relations offices.
3 Add
ct OGC
lee:
al-1j /1..a.4.4.4.44,-C-44
LAwRyjicE
TON
eitt.4A:e:e.lsr
&--ad 430-14-�z49
Approved for Release: 2023/08/07 CO2833989