ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PACIFIC MILITARY INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH SECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00706R000100010077-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 12, 2013
• Sequence Number: 77
• Publication Date: May 10, 1944
• Content Type: MEMO

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7!ID 020. G-2. VD-U.O.R.S.
ISS/MG
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73442
10 May 1944
MEMORANDUM FOR THE CHIEF OF STAFF:
Subject: Establishment of the Pacific Military
Intelligence Research Section
I. Discussion.
Importance of Captured Documents.
a. During the present war, enemy documents captured on the
field of battle have proved one of the most valuable of all sources of
military information. The information obtainable from them is both
tactical and strategic in character and affects all aspects of military
intelligence: Order of Battle, weapons, equipment, methods of emplo-
ment, fortifications, topography including terrain, communications,
uniforms, and psychological, political, and economic factors.
b. Captured documents differ from all other sources of
information in that they are the only form in which the enemy tells his
awn story authoritatively, voluntarily, and reliably.
c. Captured documents are of immense value in interpreting
information from all other sources.
d. Captured documents are among the best technical aids in
the training of intelligence personnel.
2. Experience in the handling of documents in the European and
Mediterranean Thaaters.
a. The machinery for the collection and exploitation of
enemy documents and the dissemination of the information extracted there-
from is very well developeloand has operated with eminent success in the
European and hediterranean Theaters. Its basic principles are aggressive
collection, tborough extraction of all pertinent information of interest
at every echelon, and speedy transmission through channels from the for-
ward areas to a single agency for collation and long-range exploitation in
the War Office and the War Department.
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b. At each stage in the passage of documents back from the
forward areas care is taken that all organizations and agencies have an
opportunity to extract the information of balue to them. Signal documents
are turned over to the nearest signal intelligence station for special
handling. In no other case are documents diverted from the prescribed
channels, so that their final collection at a sinzle point in the rear is
assured. This obviates the setting up of separate document exploitation
centers, none of which would be provided with all the material or would
be able to disseminate intelligence based on the entire picture.
c. All documents originating in the European and Meditaerranean
Theaters are transmitted as rapidly as possible to the London Branch, Mili-
tary Intelligence Research Section. Here all military information having
a direct bearing on operations is extracted and disseminated to Supreme
Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces, Allied Force Headquarters, the
War Office, the Air Ministry, the Admiralty, the Ministry of Economic War-
fare, and other interested agencies. Copies of documents are made -where a
permanent record is desired. After this processing in London, all docu-
ments are sent to the uashington Branch, Military Intelligence Research
Section, located at Fort Hunt, Virginia, where they remain as the joint
property of the United States and British armies. Here background military
information of a long-range nature is extracted and compiled in the form of
reference material for the use of all agencies concerned.
d. The Military Intelligence Research Section is an organiza-
tion set up by agreement between the British Directorate of Military Intel-
ligence and the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2 to coordinate the collection
and exploitation of enemy documents captured in the European war (German,
Italian, and Balkan). The results of all research are immediately avail-
able to all concerned. The London Branch, located in London, is composed
of approximately 80 specialists, including 18 United States officers, 38
United States enlisted men, British officers, enlisted men, and civilians,
and Polish officers. The Washington Branch, at Fort Hunt, Virginia, is
composed of one British officer, two United States officers, and 20 United
States enlisted men.
3. As London is considered by the Allies as the intelligence center
for the European Theater, Washington is considered the intelligence center
for the Pacific Theaters.
4. Application of document handling experience to the Pacific
Theater.
a. At the present time, enemy documents captured in the Pacific
Theater are processed to a limited extent by the intelligence staffs in the
several parts of that theater. Only the most important documents are trans-
lated and exploited. Enemy documents are not collected at any central point
and are not exploited for all types of information., ?
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b.It is vital that the experience gained in the handling of
documents in the European Theater be applied in the further development
of the system of military intelligence for the Pacific Theater. The same
basic principles are valid, subject only to the differences in distances,
types of warfare, and the enemy's methods and practices.
c. The immediate establishment of the Pacific Military Intel-
ligence Research Section at Fort Hunt, Virginia, would make possible the
thorough and scientific exploitation of captured Japanese documents to the
benefit of all concerned. A location in the vicinity of 1.ashington is
necessary to facilitate the constant and essential coordination with the
research branches of the Military Intelligence Service, other divisions of
the Army, Office of Naval Intelligence, Foreign Economics Administration,
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and any other government agencies con-
cerned. The location at Fort Hunt would take advantage of the existing
overhead facilities already there. Certain intelligence activities are
now operated at Fort Hunt as a mutually satisfactory joint Army-Navy
project.
d. The proposed Pacific Military Intelligence Research Section
will be organized similarly to the London Branch, Military Intelligence
Research Section. The only available basis at present for estimating the
strength which will be required is the London Branch as now constituted.
This subject to revision at some future time according to the quantity
and quality of the doumentary material received. Personnel would be
assigned only as required. It is expected that the United States Navy,
the Army Air Forces, and other agencies will supply personnel in direct
proportion to the amount of information which they derive from the organi-
zation. An agreement to this general effect new exists for air documents,
which has the concurrence of the Navy, the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-2,
Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, Army Air Forces, and the
Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, British Ari Ministry. The
British War Office should likewise be represented. There is every reason
to believe the Lar Office would participate, but they are not expected to
be able to contribute in proportion to the Information received due to the
shortage of British personnel with the Japanese language qualifications.
e. The Table of Organization of the United States personnel
in the London Branch, Military Intelligence Research Section, is attached
as Tab A. The proposed Table of Organization for the Pacific Military
Intelligence Research Section is attached as Tab B.
II. Action Recommended.
That the Pacific Military Intelligence Research Section at Fort Hunt,
Virginia, be authorized with the allotment of grades and ratings as set
forth in Tab B, for the purpose of exploiting captured Japanese documents.
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III. Concurrences.
Assistant Chief of Staff, 0-1
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3
Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations Division
2 Incls.:
incl. 1 - Tab A
Incl. 2 - Tab B
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clArnor
Yajor General,
L. C. of S., 3-2.
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