FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP09K00541R000700090021-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: October 27, 1943
• Content Type: MEMO

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THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
WASHINGTON
~` J
27 October 1943.
I I-rl;
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC SERVICES:
Subject: Functions of the Office of Stra-
tegic Services.
Enclosure: J.C.S. 155/11/D (Copy No. 69).
The enclosed directive for the Office of Strategic
Services, which was approved by the Joint Chiefs of Staff
in their 120th meeting on 26 October, supersedes J.C.S.
155/7/D and is forwarded for compliance.
J. McFARLAND,
lonel G.S.C.,
Deputy Secretary
Copies to:
A.C.S., OPD
Aide to Cominch
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J.C.S. 155/11/D
27 October 19+3
Pages 1 - 6 incl.
COPY NO. 69
JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF
DIRECTIVE
FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
Note by the Secretaries
The Enclosure is a Directive with respect to the Functions
of the Office of Strategic Services approved by the Joint Chiefs
of Staff in their 120th Meeting. This Directive supersedes all
directives and terms of reference previously approved by the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.
F. B. ROYAL,
A. J. McFARLAND,
Joint Secretariat.
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E N C L O S U R E
DIRECTIVE
FUNCTIONS OF THE OFFICE OF STRATEGIC SERVICES
1. AUTHORITY
By Military Order of the Commander in Chief, dated
.13 June 1942, as amended by Presidential Executive Order of
9 March 1943, the Office of Strategic Services was established
as an operating agency of the Government under the direction
and supervision of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A
2. FUNCTIONS
The Office of Strategic Services is designated as the
agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff charged with the functions
and duties. described hereinafter in paragraphs 3 to 10,
inclusive.
3. SECRET INTELLIGENCE
a. The Office of Strategic Services is authorized to:
(1) Collect secret intelligence in all areas other
than the Western Hemisphere by means cf espionage and
counter-espionage, and evaluate and disseminate such
intelligence to authorized agencies. In the Western Hemi-
sphere, bases already established by the Office of
Strategic Services in Santiago, Chile, and Buenos Aires,
Argentina, may be used as ports of exit and of entry for
the purpose of facilitating operations in Europe and Asia,
but not for the purpose of conducting operations in South
America. The Office of Strategic Services is authorized to
have its transient agents from Europe orAi3iv touchirg points in
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the Western Hemisphere transmit information through facili-
ties of the Military Intelligence Service and of the
Office of Naval Intelligence.
(2) Establish and maintain direct liaison with Allied
secret intelligence agencies.
(3) Obtain information from underground groups by
direct contact or other means.
(4) Establish and maintain direct liaison with mili-
tary and naval counter-intelligence, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and other Government agencies engaged in
counter-intelligence.
4. RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
The Office of Strategic Services will (1) furnish essen-
tial intelligence for the planning and execution of approved
strategic services'* operations; and (2) furnish such intelli-
gence as is requested by agencies of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
the armed services and other authorized Government agencies.
To accomplish the foregoing no geographical restriction is
placed on the research and analysis functions of the Office of
Strategic Services, and the following specific activities will
be performed:
a. Accumulation, evaluation and analysis of political,
psychological, sociological, economic, topographic and
military information required for the above.
b. Preparation of such studies embracing the foregoing
factors as may be required.
c. Preparation of the assigned sections of Joint Army and
Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), together with such maps,
charts and appendices as may be required to accompany these
sections.
As used in this directive, the term "strategic services"
a t.1 measures (except those pertain_.n to the Federal
p:ccg.-.F.~n (if radio, press, publication and related foreign
'oro wary^~a ELetivities involving the disserinty.on of information'
:ea orce our will upon the enemy by nP~ms other than
mi:.it?ary ac.ti.on, as may be applied in suprocr t of actual or
plannad mii:i tary operations or in furtherance of the war effort.
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d. preparation of such maps, charts and illustrations as
may be requested by the agencies of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
and authorized agencies of the War and Navy Departments.
5. SECRET OPERATIONS
The secret operations Included in this paragraph will be
conducted within enemy countries and enemy occupied or controlled
countries, and from bases within other areas, including neutral
areas, where action or counter-action may be effective against
the enemy.
a. Morale Subversion
The Office of Strategic Services is responsible for
the execution of all forms of morale subversion by diverse
means including;
False rumors, "freedom stations", false leaflets and
false documents, the organization-and support of fifth
column activities by grants, trained personnel and sup-
plies and the use of agents, all for the purpose of
creating confusion, ' division and undermining the morale
of the enemy.
b. Physical Subversion
The Office of Strategic Services is responsible for
the execution of approved special operations including;
(1) Sabotage.
(2) Organization and conduct of guerrilla warfare.
Personnel to be provided for guerrilla warfare will be
limited to organizers, fomenters and operational nuclei.
(3) Direct contact with and support of underground
resistance groups.
(4) The conduct of special operations not assigned
tr. other Government agencies and not under the direct
of the theater or area commanders.
'. The organization, equipment r-nd training of such
:rJL.'Lv,r.7uals or organizations as ciaay "-)r rgiiired. for spe-
:.c)arations not assigned to othe-.^ t,c.vai nment agencies.
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6. STRATEGIC SERVICES -- PLANNING EXECUTION, DOCTRINE AND
TRAINING
The Office of Strategic Services is charged with:
a. The planning, development and execution of strategic
services for the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the development
of doctrine covering such services.
b. The training of personnel for strategic services.
7. WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT
The Office of Strategic Services will be responsible
for the progressive and orderly development of operating pro-
cedure and the characteristics of special weapons and special
equipment for special operations not assigned or pertinent to
other U.S. Government agencies. When approved by the Office of
Scientific Research and Development, such special weapons and
special equipment may be developed by the Office of Strategic
Services in collaboration with the Office of Scientific Research
and Development. The characteristics having been so established
will be presented to the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1+, War
Department General Staff and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations
for transmittal to the appropriate supply agency for further
develo-o-j-aent or procurement. Weapons, equipment and supplies
for the Office of Strategic Services will be programmed and
procured in accordance with the pertinent Joint Chiefs of Staff
directives and current Army and Navy instructions based thereon.
8. C oNTL1! CT WITH FOREIGN NATIONALITY GROUPS
The Office of Strategic Services is authorized, in con-
.?~.ltation with the Department of State, to maintain contact with
L):?aign nationality groups and individuals in the United States
for the purpose of obtaining information.
9. COMMUNICATIONS .
The Office of Strategic Services shall be responsible for
the planning, organization and operation of essential communica
tions required for field and training activities in connection
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with approved projects. Existing communication facilities will
be utilized wherever possible. The programming and procurement
of connn nica.Lions equipment will be made only after approval
therefore has been secured from the Assistant Chiefs of Staff,
G-4, War Department General Staff, or the Vice Chief of Naval
Operation3, depending on..which service has primary interest in
the particular type of communications equipment under considera-
tion.
10. LIAISON WITH OTHER AGENCIES
The Office of Strategic Services is authorized to maintain
liaison with other interested Government agencies.
11. COORDINATION OF STRATEGIC SERVICES PROGRAMS
Strategic services programs are supplementary to and must
be coordinated with military programs. To insure this, a
planning group to act as a joint medium shall be set up in
the Office of Strategic Services for supervising and coordinating
the planning and execution of the strategic services programs.
The Office of,Strategic Services Planning Group shall consist of:
a. One member appointed by the Secretary of State, two
members appointed by the Chief of Staff, U.S. Army, two mem-
bers appointed by the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet and
Chief of Naval Operations, and four members, including the
appointed by the Director of Strategic Services.
b. The members of the Office of Strategic Services Plan-
nin`; Croup shall be available for full-time duty and sha11
be free from other assigned duties.
c. An Advisory Committee comprising rep~rese=itatives from
the Office of Economic Warfare, Coordinator of Inter-American
Affairs, Treasury Department and from time to time representa-
tives of such other Government agencies as may be called upon
to serve, shall be set up to serve with the Planning Group,
either as individual members or as a committee when requested
by the Chairman of the Group, to consider matters affecting
the respective agencies represented on the Committee. Members
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of the Advisory Committee will advise the Planning Group as to
how their respective agencies can be of assistance in insuring
the success of strategic services plans.
d. All major projects and plans for strategic services
will include measures for political, cultural and economic
pressures to be applied. In the case of economic pressures
the projects and plans will indicate only the results desired
from the Office of Economic Warfare.
e. All major projects and plans for strategic services
will be integrated with military and naval programs by the
Office of Strategic Services Planning Group and, after approval
by the Director of Strategic Services, submitted to the Joint
Chiefs of Staff through the Joint Staff Planners for final
approval.
12. GE : AL PROVISIONS
a. Interchange of Information.
The Military Intelligence Service, the Office of Naval
Intelligence and the Intelligence Service, Office of Strategic
Services, will provide for the complete and free interchange
of infor1'ation, evaluated as to creditability of source, re-
quirod for the executive of their respective missions.
i~. Security Control.
The timing of strategic services meaas11res initiated
in United States is subject to the direction of Security
Cont c-:ol .
c. Control by Theater Commanders.
All activities within organized theaters or areas are
,ubject to direct control by the commander concerned who is
authorized to utilize the organization and facilities of the
Office of Strategic Services in his theater or area in any
manner and to the maximum extent desired by him.
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