PROBLEM - THE DETERMINATION OF INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLECTION AGNCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00764R000600100028-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 1998
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: April 23, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 200SI/14 ECIIA-RDP83-007664 000600100028-6
73 April 1951
PROBLEM `-- The Determination of Intelligence Requirements for
Collection Agencies of the Government.
1. In an effort to clarify intelligence requirements for covert
operations, OSO has requested the assistance of the coordinating agencies
of CIA.
P. Several meetings have been held with representatives of collection
agencies of the Government which have resulted in the recognition of OSO
as a catch-all for intelligence requirements, because of the fact that the
problem was not considered from the point of view of all agencies. A mis-
conception of the requirement has been apparent throughout our conversations,
e.g., representatives of the Defense Services in two meetings indicated that
the papers prepared by the Defense Services were ?intended for OSO because
they believe that the information required on the USSR and its Satellites
can only be obtained through covert operations.
3. The Defense Services are most advanced in their preparation of
collection requirements, but between the three principal agencies of
Defense there is little inter-relationship of priorities.
4o The State Department and the using offices of CIA have not presented
over-all requirements, nor apparently has there been an effort to correlate
the specific requirements,
5. The discussions of this subject have indicated a need felt to be
soluble only by the CIA, whose charter places on it the responsibility for
such coordination. It is above and beyond the scope of the needs presented
in this problem by OSO. For these reasons? a paper has been initiated by
OSO requesting that a National Intelligence) Requirements Board be established
to most this problem.
6. To stimulate action on this request, it is felt that an expression
of the thoughts of the Assistant Directors at this meeting would be healthy.
25X1A9a
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
ET
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NOO SECRET Ifte
NATIONAL IN TELL' IGENCEIREQUiTS
~s~rrrir.~mr6a rArrY ern
1. OSO believes that it is a joint IAC or National responsibility
to determiner
(a) What intelligence is required by the US.
(b) The order in which it should be obtained.
(c) Who is to collect the intelligence.
2. OSO also believes that no member of the Ike or individual office
of CIA is competent to make these decisima for the others.
3. Virtually all the arguments used in support of the production of
National Estimates can be used to support the production of National
Intelligence Requirements.
4. Currently all the IAC members draw up their requirements
independently,, without adequate indications of priorities, and direct them
to the collection agencies.
5. The collection agencies are compelled to try to reconcile these
conflicting requirements and establish collection priorities.
6. The collection agencies, individlually or collectively, have neither
the facilities nor the competence to determine the intelligence collection
requirements of the US.
V. As matters now stand, the collection agencies are buried under an
avalanche of uncoordinated collection requirements that are far beyond their
present and Probable future collection capabilities,
S. In the event of a serious "intelligence failure", those drawing up
intelligence requirements can be reasonably sure that they are "protected"
by having called for practically all conceivable information and the collection
agencies can be almost equally certain that they will not have been able to
obtain it.
9. Certain steps have already been Won pointing toward the production
of National Intelligence Requirements. These are summarized in Tab "A".
10. In view of the foregoing it is recommended that a National
Intelligence Requirement Board be established in CIA, at the earliest possible
moment, in order to:
(a) Receive all intelligence requirements.
(b) Establish intelligence priorities.
(c) Assign collection responsibilities.
11. It is further recommended that the proposed National Intelligence
Requirements Board be placed under such coordinating agency as may be deemed
appropriate, and that it work with representatives of the collects 1],
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S E C R E T
TAB "A"
S RM OF PAPERS BE 1 NATIZDNM ?RF UIR =
1. DCI 4/1 states general, overcall principles applicable to all
areas. Paragraph 3 notes the obligation of CIA to establish and maintain
on a current basis priority listings of National. Intelligence Objectives,
by country and/or subject; this is to he done in collaboration with other
agencies concerned.
2. DCI 4/2 gives seven over-all objectives which are, however,
limited to the production of intelligence on Soviet capabilities and in.
tentions. These topics are very general and are confined to the USSR. It
is assumed that there are other areas of strategic interest in a descetding
order of importance on which intelligence must be procured.
3. Appendices to 34-626-51, "Fields in Which a Lack of Intelligence
Exists." These three separate apnendices of the Department of Army, Air,
and Navy are excellent forward steps in presenting intelligence requirements,
Their weaknesses are that:
(a) They are actually written only against the USSR and
Satellites.
(b) Only one Department has :roughly aiunged the requirements
on a priority basis,
(c) They contain no reconciliation of the separate requirements
of the three Departments.
Parallel requirements of the Department of State and interested
Offices of CIA have not been submitted,
SEC RE
Approved For Release 2000/09/14: CIA-RDP83-00764R000600100028-6