MEETING TO DISCUSS THE FEASIBILITY OF COMBINING THE COMMERCIAL STAFF AND THE PROJECT ADMINISTRATIVE PLANNING STAFF, AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATION IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S SURVEY OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04718A001700020031-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2001
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: August 2, 1955
• Content Type: MFR

"~"~?"'?'~rpprave or-Reba
ice,-~~~rr~n~;m ~r w~+a~v. L.1
~ J kDgibicM~V~'ifvl3
i"i....n C'v,n....A Sr.. Tt~ R
.;ii e.: IYI:
'< ~'f ? 1
t2 August 2955
SU~SJ+:C~~`z :~eetitzg to discuss the feasibl.lity of combiaz~.x~g the Cc~mtnercia3
Staff and the Pro,~ect Adm3.niatrative Pla~nxz3ng Staff, as a
result of the recaz~endation in the Inspector General, f s .Survey
ref the Cunr~ercial Staff
25X1A9a
1* ~'resenl: at i~he rneetinp, held on 2 August I95S, were ~eesrs.
: Houston, Wh1.te and 25X1A9a
2. t~olonel White 4 ?
el~nt of the Inspector Genneral~sdrepart~i~i3.ch as tt-tbe considex~edoaty
th~.s meeting wa.~ the recommendation that the P.~P Staffs the Commercial
ts.ff and tlae Covert Le,~al. Unit bs combined into the Investment Management
Sta.,.r. boy ~.nd~.cated that if it he~d been within the scope of their assigzz,.
ment, they would haves recannded that the Cover ~ivisl.c~n also be coF~bins~
w~.th these units artd that the ~aho2e conso~.i Dated staff operate under the
dl.rectl,on of, and be respons#.b~.e to, the IX1P/DI3/P=
:~ . Cola~l Wiaite indicated that he had chec~ed this ~I3ossibi2ity out
w~.th +tr. _~ who feels that he wou3.d not want to consider such a move
now, inasmuch sa the Cover I?iv~.al.an is fa3.rly t~ew and they have encau;h
problems get~~~g that to function in an effective manner. Colone3, White
~.ndicated' we ~.~, the;k proceed on the assumptiarz that the 4orw~r 13ivisic~n
is riot involved in our consi~~eratiax~.
~. ~'o3.Qne1 White then discussed the Covers Legal ?Tnit and indicated
%hat he agreed with Mr. Houston that there was no such un?.t and, tit ghat
=gas rea3ljr involved was a physical separation of certa;~.n members of the
Office of the Geners.I. Counsel for the convenience of the G2.andestin~s
Services so #.hs,t they z~s3.ght more readily made the contacts required Frith
the General Court:~el. Co2one7. E~h3.te felt it wou~.d not be ,prudent to place
rrtembers of Mr. Houston~s Staff under the direct superv~.s~.on of the Chief
of the Investment Management Staff, acid that therefore ate +~ould, by ecxrr~non
consent, exclude' the Legal Unit from consideration.
5? fine discussion then resolveal itself to consideration cif the point
al' whether the Carr~nercial Staff anal the PAF Staff sbau7.d merge. Colone].
mite indicated that he had Felt fpr some tune that there might be benefits
accruing from such. a combination or merger. Re felt that if the P~.nciple
were valid, it t~,ight be in order to have the ~iaxya~esaent Staff study both
the Commercial Staff and the F~i.E' StsfP in detaf l to see whether or root s
verger was valid -and if so, ho~a it should be handled artd what type of
o~'gard.zation shszuld cone out off` it.
Approved For Release 2001/08/10 :CIA-RDP78-04718A001700020031-9
 Approved For Release 2001/08/19.; RDP78-04718AO01700020031-9
11. Colonel White indicated that it might be more benefici
ore teeth in the Regulations and give some authority to the new
group. He felt that in this way certain of the Case Officers would not
be so inclined to non concurrence in the recommendations of this group.
along with recommendations of the Staffs than to fight out a non-concurrence
through the . higher echelons, unless it is a matter of real substance. He
definitely feels that the Investment Management Staff could be strong in
an advisory capacity and still stay out of the actual day-to-day manage-
ment.
ression from his experience with plans developed by the
n they know that th final approval of a plan is at the
level of the )1)/P and the HI)/8, ley appear to be more Inclined to go
25X1A9a 12. Mr. - indicated that the PAP Staff and Commercial Staff
have much different functions that might lead to confusion rather than
help, if they were put under one head. He felt that the education of
the Case Officers would be more beneficial than a combination of Staffs.
133. Colonel White again indicated his feeling that a Case Officer
would probably appreciate one place where he could get all the advice
that he needed from the various .11/S elements sorted out.
lip. Mr# indicated that with a cox bination there still
would not be nonce p ace" where they could get all needed advice. There
would still be a need for going to the various support offices to work
out the details.
25X1A9a 15. Mr. -then indicated that it was his feeling that the
picture is not quite as confused as the report would lead one to believe.
The Case Officers who were contacted by the Inspector General's group
may have left an impression of confusion but if they had checked out
at the administrative and staff level they would not have found confusion.
16. Colonel White indicated then that it was his experience with
the Central Processing Branch that at least once a week he received unsolicited
compliments as to the advantage of going to one place to gat all angles of a
trip handled. He felt that the same approach would be valid in developing
the administrative requirements for a project.
17. Mr. then added some, other comments
which indicated they did not feel a combination would be particularly
effective or valid, and reference was made to commercial management firms.
Mr. Houston felt that there was some validity to a combination. Mr.
indicated that he would not object to a combination but he would not want
to see "change for the sake of change." Colonel White indicated that there
is a tangible need for a change, and the need that was evident was for a
Approved For Release 2001/08/10 : CIA-RDP78-04718AO01700020031-9
 Approved For Release 2001/08/10 : CIA-RDP78-04718AO01700020031-9
facility for a Case Officer to get the guidance he needed at one
sound, how do go about it? Cclonel White again emphasized that "unl
it is unsound, I believe 7we ought to do it."
. - indicated that in his opinion, continuous process of developing
and managing the administration of a project would make sense. Colonel
ate asked Mr. - if he had any comments at this time, and he indicated
that he preferred to hold off until he had opportunity to study the situa-
tion. Colonel White then asked Mr.- to study the matter as it had
been outlined and furnish recommendations as soon as he could. He was to
proceed on the assumption that the principle proposed was sound. If it is
i.. -Mr. then asked what the target date was, and Colonel White
aced Labor Day.
25X1A9a 19. Nr.~ took our office copy of the Inspector General'
25X1A9a report and a copy of tlr. -s comments on the report.
pecial AS
Deputy Director (Support)
Approved For Release 2001/08/10 : CIA-RDP78-04718AO01700020031-9