NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS - (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003600060040-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: January 17, 1947
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80RO1731R0036000
17 January 19147
RANDUN FOR C 1 R L CRAM i,LTN :
Subject-. National Intelligence Requirements
1. Reference your memorandum of 8 January 19147, subjects CIO
19, which reads:
01. Approval of CIO 19 was originally given subject to the
approval of the collection plan drawn up for its implementation.
"2. GIG 19 and its accompanying plan for collection were
accepted as an experiment in the coordination of the collection
of intelligence selected as the field for the ex-
3eri t. This action ems taken with the-hope that it might
lead to a solution of the fundamental problems of the coordi-
nation of all collection activities and the delineation of in-
telligence responsibilities, although it was recognized that It
and its counterparts the GIG plans ems more United in scope
than$ and somewhat contrary tot War Department doctrines which
are global in nature.
"3. Since GIG 19 was initiat&d, NIA Directive No. 7 has
been publ.i sheds coordinating the entire field of collection
activities. GIG 239 too, (which coordinates the responsibilities
for the production of intelligence) is now in circulation and
apparently its approval is in eight. Chen approved, CIG 23s
'tber with NIA Directive No. 7, would appear to obviate the
desirability of the China experiment.
"4. In view of the publication of NIA Directive No. 7 and
the impending publication of the Enclosure to GIG 23, it is
rec? nded that CIO 19 and its accompanying collection plan
withdrawn from the consideration of the Intelligence Advisory
Board or at least postponed for consideration to insure that
it be brought into full consonance with the broader directives.,
. 2. Your proposal that CIO discontinue the preparation of National
Intelligence Requirements indicates a misunderstanding of the national
intelligence program as it is being developed by GIG with the advice
and assistance of representatives of the LAB agencies. I# therefore,
believe it advisable to explain this program in some detail so that
you may see the part to be played by the National Intelligence Require-
ments., their absolute necessity to the Director of Central Intelligence
in the performance of his mission, and their sxpxxu expected useful-
no" to the several agencies.
In its efforts to comply with the mission assigned to it by
the President's letter of 22 January 1946 as interpreted in part by
ent NIA Directives, the GIG, under my direction, has undertaken
25X6
p~r~ved orReeae03~t ~IAf KIIPR~~f 0"'$[[
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of the intelligence mission related to the national security,"
to furnish strategic and national policy intelligence to the President
and the State, War, and Navy Departments, etc." These plans have fallen
under the three general heads of: (a) collection; (b) research or
production; (a) dissemination. Those several specific problems which
en referred by the agencies to CIO for coordination have
also been studied in the light of these three basic categories,
b.
basic plans are designed to facilitate the iraple-
mentaation of the collection, research, and dissemination of: (a)
artmental intelligence, and; (b) strategic or national policy
intelligence, By the President's letter, departmental intelligence
continues to be the responsibility of the departments. It has such
subdivisions as tactical intelligence; combat intelligence; operational
intelligence, and; staff intelligence. Strategic and national policy
intelligence is allocated by the President to the Director of Central
Intelligence. It in imposed of such parts as daily digests of current
intelligence; situation reports; special evaluations, and; basic
intelligence. Overall it is that intelligence which results from an
expert correlation, evaluation, and analysis of all available intelli--
Bence information, including departmental intelligence, for the use of
the President and top policy officers of the Government in developing
policies fore the protection of the national security. CIG's interests
ional strategic intelligence is paramount since the Director
of Central Intelligence alone in authorized to produce it. He musts
therefore, determine the collection requirements and procedures the
research requirements and procedures, and the dissemination require-
ments and procedures.
5. In developing its plans for the coordination of the threes
basic phases of intelligence woxc, GIG has attempted and sincerely
believes that it has given careful consideration to the requirements of
the several agencies as well as to its own requirements. Every effort
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has been made to create an appreciation by the agencies of their
interdependability and the logic of closer cooperation.
6. One of the forces behind the original creation of the central
ence organization was the lack of some central point where the
intelligence of the four agencies could be correlated objectively, free
from, departmental pressures and evaluated as a whole.
7. A collection plan can provide fcr the coordination of all
collection activities and procedures whether they are for the collection
of material for departmental or national strategic intelligence. But
a continuing lad plan not requiring frequent change it cannot
contain directives as to what intelli;erne' material to collect during
any given period. The requirements of today are not the requirements
At most it can allocate broad fields to specialized
collectors. Even here provision must be made for ad hoc reallocation
on special occasions. The mass of intelligence material available to
efficient collectors in such that selection moist be made. That selection
can be made only by those having the perspective of distance and a
knowledge of the policy or operational officers' demand for estimates*
sic plan for collection coordination meets this requirement. Only
ific program such as the NIR, which can be implemented by
collection coordination plan by providing periodic guidance,, will
saltation with the agencies the NIP wli:?ll insofar as
possible include in order of their relative importance the intelligence
requirements of the several agencies and of CIO. The National Intelii-
ements will, also serve as guidance for the general activities
of Special Operations. Their absence will leave the coordinators
by NIA Directive No. 7 without the guidance they moist
the implementation of that p&an.. Because of the above and
because of my responsibility to produce national strategic intelligence,
I believe in the necessity of the prompt issuance of the National
Intelligence Requirements for the strategic areas of the world w-id
such steps as appear appropriate to that end. It is my
understanding that other intelligence agencies represented in IAB
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concur in this opinion. SECRET -3- 1W
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The production plan is a natural companion of the collection
out that coordination which establishes sound and sure
`orming by and for itself all the collection and production
nterdependability, each agency mast operate as a self contained
other. It cannot be expected National Intelligence
Allocation in one field requires concurrent allocation
Requirements of the several agencies for their own depu t rental
intelligence will produce the intelligence necessary for the production
of national strategic intelligence. Conversely, there is no intention
that the will restrict the reporting by agency representatives
abrca d in, fulfillment of their parent agency*e requests for intelli-
gence of current value to departmental intelligence.. Nor will the PIIR
replace the standing instructions providing for the steady flow
of factual data destined for the compilation or revision of basic or
strategic intelligence. The NIR are intended only to give guidance
as to what emphasis should be placed on their multitude of respousi_-
bilities, it has to serve as a current periodic program for the
implementation of the basic long-range plan. This does not preclude
the procedure whereby these basic estimates will be further treated
by any or all of the agencies in the preparation of their departmental
intelligence. 1tt the mere possession of intelligence in no matter
what form is not an end in itself. There musts therefore be a
dissemination procedure.
9. The dissemination plan must insure the rapid dissemination
of all incoming intelligence az information to those agencies that
it in that form. It should equally discontinue the dis-
semination of intelligence material which is not wanted and which only
by its c ressiwe volume. In addition, it shiou.ld insure the
dissemination of basic estimates required for the development of
departmental intelligence. And finally, it should insure the receipt
by GIG of all departmental intelligence studies and estimates so that
proper strategic and national policy intelligence may be prepared by
the Director of Central Intelligence for the
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 Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80RO1731R0036000b SECRET
10. It. therefore request that you issue such directives as may
be necessary to the individuals already designated by you to
the CIO in preparing NIR for the USM and the Middle East. Invitations
for interagency meetings to prepare these NIR will be
sued in the next few days.
also request that you give your concurrence to the
immediate issuance
As you are aware the preparation of
NIR China was initiated on 30 August 1946 with the idea they would be
quarterly. The sere approved by the IAB on 7 Nov.
ember 196 and the subsequent inexcusable delay has been the result of
consideration of the implementing. directives. Althoug i I believe the
detailed implementing directives for the NIR will, when the plan
eventually perfected, invare the most efficient intelligence production.
withdrawing the implementing directive to and shall 25X6
refer the problem of their implementation to GIG Assistant Director
for Collection and Dissemination who will issue such collection
requests as may appear necessary.
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