ATTACHED MEMORANDUM - BACKGROUND OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000100200001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 2, 1947
• Content Type: MF

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2 May 1947
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, CIG
Subject: Attached Memorandum - Background of
Central Intelligence
1. It would appear to be probable that members c,f
Congress called upon to consider legislation relating to
central intelligence are unlikely to have any but the
foggiest of notions concerning its philosophy or raison.
dtetre. It seemed to me possible that you might consider
favorably the possibility of having presented to them
officially some document which would provide them with a
background against which specific verbal testimony would
take on greater mesa ing. Such a document might also obviate
the excessively elementary type of question which is so apt
to delay the progress of Congressional hearings.
2. In going over the files of possibly useful docu-
ments I cane across a memorandum prepared by the Strategic
Services Unit for the war Department committee of inquiry
headed by Assistant Secretary Lovett. One part of this
memorandum, with which I am particularly familiar because
I wrote it at the direction of General Magruder, seemed
particularly well adapted for the desired use. I have
revised it somewhat, eliminating certain too technical
parts and expanding others which might be ambiguous. ?h.e
result is attached for your consideration.
3. It is my belief that this document can be given
a classification of "Confidential" since its contents are
quite general. The original paper was classified "Secret"
but it contained much more specific information. than does
the attachment, and it was written at a time when central
intelligence was as yet a future development in fact.
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BACKGROUND OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AG TCY
1. The conception of a centralized foreign inte:t ll-
gence agency for the United States Government grew out of
experience acquired in World War II when the lack of cocrdi:cta-
tion between the various departmental and other intelligence
services seriously handicapped the military effort. The
organization which was established by the President Is directive
of 22 January 1946 was the result of prolonged study on the
part of the various interested departments and agencies Th
form of the directive establishing the National Intelligence
Authority and the Central Intelligence Group, was suggestec:. Ln
a draft unanimously concurred. in by the Secretaries of aztat;o,
jar and Navy which was submitted to the President on 7 January
1946.
2. The form of the secretaries, draft was greatly
influenced by the report of a War Department committee headed
by Assistant Secretary Lovett. This committee had held ex?-
tensive hearings during October 1945 and had received names^u.s
recommendations concerning the future foreign intelligence
activities of the U.&:' Government. One of these recommendations,
submitted by the Strategic Services Unit, presented so clearly
the reasoning behind the central intelligence agency concept;
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the present services but which are not strictly related to
to the central intelligence agency. Certain of these central
for the benefit of the government as a whole would be assigned.
functions which could more efficiently be performed centrally
analysis and dissemination of such intelligence. All other
their respective activities, together with the evaluation,
with the overt collection of foreign intelligence peculiar to
expected to continue their operations without change, under
the sole limitation that they concern themselves primarily
their functions. The present departmental services would be
others will at once suggest themselves to anyone familiar with'
functions have in part been described in the previous pages`:
the subject of foreign intelligence.
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Military Affairs Committee, Senate
Armed Eorces Department. Department of Armed Forces, Department of
Military Security, hearings, 79th Congress, lst session on s.84 to
provide for Department of Armed Forces, Secretary of Armed Forces,
Under Secretaries of Army, Navy, and Air, and for other purposes
5.14$2, to establish Department of Military Security, to consolidate
therein military security activities of United States, and for other
purposes, October 17 - December 17, 1945. 1945. Vi, 7O7p.
6L e c,- v-e.w s (p er- o.r- c.\ e.
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