MY DEAR MR. CANNON:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00022R000200100004-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 25, 1945
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/05/29 : CIA-RDP84-00022R000200100004-8
Transcribed r abd by corn 114.64>E
6 November 1952 Budget 19146
COP Y
JCS Declassification/Release Instructions on File
The Honorable -
Clarence Cannon
Chairman
House Appropriations Committee
it[y dear iir. Cannon:
25 May 1914,5
Pursuant to your request, transmitted orally by tAr.
John K. Pugh, for a statement as to xiletnc r or not General
MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz desire the services of the Of-
fice of Strategic Services in the Pacific war, the following
messages from General achrtriur and Admiral Nilmmitz are
quoted for your information.
From (General MacArthur, (Commanding Southwest
Pacific Area:)
"No statement has emanated from this headquarters
nor so far as known from this area in comment on OSS.
Any items that may have appeared in. the press along
this line must be regarded as speculative conjecture.
"The 053 has not up to the present time operated
witri-i_n this area, I know little of its methods, have
no control of its agencies, and consequently have no
plans for its future employment."
From Admiral Nimitz) (Commanding Pacific Ocean
Areas:)
"Owing to the character of the mar in the Pacific
Ocean Areas which has been primarily naval, amphibious,
and aerial, the employment of the agencies of the Office
of Strategic Services in the Pacific Ocean Areas has
been very limited.
1% Is aT POq Y~Nr;
~MI- r : r .
44,Vf " gr t01a a AloCti v s 3 E C R E T
wd the f-;lSTQ jc L REVIEW Pf`:C'a`PI
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000151,
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"The minor services rendered could have been
rendered equally effectively by appropriate agencies
of the War and Navy Departments.
"Although. OSS has been anxious to assist and co-
operate it is r;.my considered opinion that better results
would have been obtained and can be obtained in the fu-
ture if the missions now assigned to the O5S are reas-
signed to the War and Navy Departments insofar as. the
Pacific Ocean Areas are concerned.
"I have no adequate basis for co.,ment?on the need
for the OSS in land campaigns in large land .masses."
In addition to the "orogo.ing, there are also quoted for
your information the follovin messages in the same connection
from General Wedemeyer, General Sultan and General i-~cNarney:
From General Wedemeyer, Commanding U.S. Army Forces,
China Theater:
"Inasmuch as OSS and Navy Group China'are the only
American organizations in this theater trained and cap-
able of carrying out demolitions, commando operations
and clandestine intelligence activity, it is considered
that the potential value of OSS to this theater is nigh.
"Presently authorized for OSS is a strength of 2000
United States personnel in this theater and this number
is being approached rapidly. When OSS reaches authorized
strength and its efforts are closely iriegrated with of-
fensive operations intended feel certain their approved
projects will materially assist theater in its assigned
mission.
"OSS is now training 20 Commando Groups and intelli-
gence teams and will furnish United States personnel to
these units as advisors. These groups and others already
trained are to be charged with responsible missions in
direct support of contemplated future plans."
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From General Sultan, (Commanding U.S. Ann-V Forces,
India-Buraria Theater: ) t, I RDurin- the recent campaign in north Burma, OSS
furnished most effective assistance by organizing Kachin
irregulars to provide intelligence and to harass enemy
lines of communications. Now that this campaign has
ended, the OSS Detachment which carried out this useful
work is being transferred to China Theater.
"Although OSS has furnished certain limited assist-
ance to British operations in the ;rakan, its combat
role in further Southeast Asia Command operations in
Burma is negligible and can be disregarded.
"At the present time, the primary mission of the
India-3urma Theater is to suppof t China Theater. OSS
is not required by !BT for the execution of this mission.
"Insofar as OSS acitivities in this theater are con-
cerned, it is believed that the functions presently. being
performed by OSS would be more economically and efficiently
accomplished were the existing organization changed to
bring OSS wholly within the ?ffar and Navy Departments,
thus insuring control through normal command channels."
From General 14cNarney, Deputy Supreme Allied Com-
mander, t;iediterranean:
"Office of Strategic Services activities in this
theater have been to carry out special operations and to
provide secret intelligence.
"These activities contributed greatly to the success
of our operations in Italy and could not have been per-
formed effectively in the absence of trained OSS personnel
and facilities.
"OSS personnel did an outstanding job in directing
and coordinating Partisan activities and their facilities
were indispensable in the negotiations culminating in the
German surrender in Italy.
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"So long as the situation in Italy, !Austria , and
the Balkans remains unstable, it is essential to con-
tinue the secret intelligence activities of OSS in this
!'heater.
"Special operations, however, are no longer required
and accordinr-ly the OSS staff in the Mediterranean Theater
of Operations can be reduced, on the basis of a rough
estimate, to approximately 20` i_n 1946 of its average
Mediterranean Theater of Operations strength for the
fiscal year 1945. -.commend that Office of Strategic
Services be provided with sufficient funds in the fiscal
year 1946 to continue their reduced activities in MMiedi-
terranean Theater and to perr.?,it trained OSS personnel to
be redeployed to the Pacific."
Trusting that the above will give you the information
desired,
Sincerely yours,
/s/
'TILLL M,;i D. La1H ,
ii'leet Admiral, I.S. Navy,
Chief of Staff to the
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy.
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