LETTER TO HONORABLE JACK GORRIE FROM MERLIN O'NEILL

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R001000160048-4
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RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
R
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 28, 2007
Sequence Number: 
48
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 22, 1952
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R001000160048-4.pdf232.92 KB
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Approved For Release 2007/12/28: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000160048-4 KL I Kly I tU SO..., INFORMATIO COW RANT U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Washington 25, D. C. Honorable Jack Gorrie Chairman, National Security Resources Board Washington, D. C, My dear Mr. Gorrie: December 22. 1952 With respect to the Port Capacity Protection Survey, the comments of the various Federal agencies have been reviewed. Since difi7ere'lces of opinion were expressed over some of the recommendations stealing from a consideration of alternate port facilities General R. H. 'Trlie, ?--ho headed Task Unit B which developed that phase of the report, has b>'en consulted and his further opinion considered. The main difference between the opinions expressed by the agencies and that of the survey group relates to the method of control of port facilities, The deliberation$ of Task Unit B, as well as those of an earlier Port Utilization `_`ur2y, resulted in a conclusion that during a real emergency there is a great need for positive control of suci* facilities. The various agencies in dissenting from this view apparently believe the method of World War II and the present, coni,rol by a Co:"r:aittee, to be adequate. As long as an emergency is limiter: so that the demand upon the fac _lities of a port is less than ahsolutr, a committee or cooperative form of control would be satisfactory. 5i.oule- the demand increase so a prompt determination of priority becomes essential, it seems crative that the agency exercising; control have full and positive authority and that it not be subjected to the delays and inefficiency which often accompany committee actions. It appears that the terra "allocation of ocean lift" as used by the task group may have been misunderstood, In view of certain of the c ornra? nts it is believed that "allocation of quotas of ocean lift to ports" vtou16 be more indicative of the Task Grou,p's intent. Accordingly, it is desired that the survey report be considered as modified to the extent of substituting the latter for the former in the General Chairman a s Report paragraphs A(2)(b) and B(2)(b)2, in Task Unit B Report, paragraph 31~b, and at any other placer where it may have been used. Otherwise, there does not appear to be any notable difference in con- cept between the survey report and the agency comment. Brief reference is made below to several recommendations to clarify questions in the comments, NSC REVIEWED NO OBJECTION TO DECLASSIFICATION AND DHS review(s) RELEASE completed. RESTRICTED SECT Y INFORMATION - 4.. i s Approved For Release 2007/12/28: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000160048-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/28: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000160048-4 Ktb I KIG I tU SECUR, INFORMATION Commandant to Ion. Tack Gorrie The recommendations concerning protection of facilities were confined primarily to piers, wharves, docks and related structures. The need for security measures for protection of facilities behind the water front was recognized. Hcsever, the Task Group felt that this, thoigh related to port protection, was part of a broader problem requiring separate consideration. The recommendation with respect to "vesting in the Coast Guard con- tinuing responsibility and authority for regulations governing type of construction, equip:xent and operation of water front facilities" extends only to fire prevention and other safety aspects of construction and operation of water front facilities. (General Chairman's Report, paragraph B (l)) . The recommendation in the General Chairman's Report, paragraph B(1)(g) respecting facilities for loading of explosives is deemed to include that of Task Unit B, paragraph K-il, rage 23, with respect to alloca- tion of such facilities. With respect to the organization for port restoration, it, was reccnimeridee that the Corps of 7'ngineers be designated to provide the Port Uti tzati=o Controller with technical advice. Task Unit C envisaged that all avail- able technical services would be utilized by the Corps of Ergineers and recognized the potential of other engineering groups. However, it wan felt the t one ar?cncyy should be designated and assigned prime respcnsi- bility. (Task Unit C Report, Tart VI) . It was also realized that interrelationships exist between the Federal Civil Defense r,drlinistration, the military, other government agencies, and private organizations. The Task Group called attention to several points of overlap and recognized that they would have to be reconciled during the development of civil defense plans. The recommendations, respecting the utilization of small ports anc_ stockpiling of certain materials that would be required in rehabilita- tion of a port, the design of port facilities, and others were mace for the purpose'of bringing attention to unresolved problems which were encountered. In themselves they were not solutions to the problems. It is agreed that further specialized study is required before a rnolicy is formulated and a s?pecific plan adopted in those cases. S#cerely yours, /s/ Merlin 01Neill MERLIN O'P,EILL Vice Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard RESTRICTED SEe"0P1f''dRMATfON ffil .$ V Approved For Release 2007/12/28: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000160048-4 Approved For Release 2007/12/28: CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000160048-4 EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT NATIONAL SECURITY RESOURCES BOARD WASHINGTON 25, D. C. OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN IN t~ NSC REVIEWED NO OBJECTION TO DECLASSIFICATION AND RELEASE Ronorable Walter Bedell *dth Director, Central Intelligence Agency Washington 25, D. C. Dear General 8ed.th: have received from Vice Admiral G'' eiii2 Cosa extant of the Coat t3aard, the enclosed letter dated Dscembor 2, 1952, revi. 4.ng the eaes nts of Federal sgenaies on the report of the Port Capsci ty Protection &irvey which, as 4eneral chairman of the 3 vey (beep,, he conducted for the R rt e cy s urae,, Lard. The second paragraph of the letter recognisen that in a f-OL& %,, emergency the Present ocamittea or cooperative form of control for port Utilization would be satisfactory but adheres to the view that, in a fuil.l?seaie war emergency, more positive authority to the control, agency would be necessary. The remaining explan6t4one and certain changes madee by the letter %All 4+ 4.. L~ls_~a .. cents. The Report, as t ies mended and clarified, is available to the agencies concerted for planning purposes in their respictivs areas of responsibility. TWO copies of the Report were saint with our original request for cosmerite. As the available supply of the Report is limited, it is requested that as far as possible these copies be used to meet tiow needs and that the enclosed copies of Admiral O'Neillta letter be att d h h ac e t ereto. Attention is invited to the fact that the Inventor f y fl C, . r+jrc Capacities as of January 1., 1951, which appeared as Appendix B to the report of Task Unit B in the original asnrvey Report, is nca obsolete. It has been replaced by a later form of inventory pre? pared for the Resources Board by the Maritiure Administration, w par'tment of Commence. This inventory which I t b , s o e revised periodically, is Gasified "CNM rrxAL ? Security Informstjor,,n It Will be treated as a separate doouarent and the classification of the Port Capacity Protection report will ocntinue as "IIr3TRIp Security Information." !inoerelye Jack Gorris 1/1/53.. . . . . . Approved For Release 2607/112/28i":- 007/12/28 :CIA-RDP80B01676R001000160048-4