LETTER TO GENERAL DONOVAN FROM PRESIDENT TRUMAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000200110006-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 4, 2006
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: September 20, 1945
• Content Type: LETTER

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LETTER FROM PRESIDENT TRUMAN
TO GENERAL DONOVAN
20 September 1945
The letter belongs in this collection of documents
because of its reference in the third paragraph to "the
.development of a coordinated system of foreign intelligence
within the permanent framework of the Government." If it
were indicative of nothing else this statement would show
that the idea of having an American peace-time, centralized
intelligence service had gained sufficient acceptability
to permit of public mention without danger of again exciting
cries of "Gestapo."
The letter is also interesting because of its clear
indication of the President's desire to preserve the assets
of OSS for use in peacetime intelligence work. Somewhat
similar phraseology was used in the directive transferring
the intelligence procurement branches of OSS to the War
Department, and it was echoed in the specific directives
issued by Secretary Patterson and Assistant Secretary
McCloy to General Magruder, who had been asked by them to
take over direction of what was then entitled "The Strategic
Services Unit" of the War Department.
MORI/CDF Pages 1 & 16
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THE DONOVAN PLAN FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
OF A CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITY
The memorandum from Ge
l
nera
Donovan to President
Roosevelt and the draft directive attached to it are really
of historic importance. A limit
d
e
and number of copies was made
these were sent to l
d
ea
ing cabinet members for comment
as
well as to the JCS
Th
.
e JCS published the two papers as
JCS 1181 which was given
dd
a
itional but still very limited
00404A- distribution. Somehow a copy of JCS 1181 reached
the press and was publish
d
e
, particularly in the Chicago
Tribune and the Washington Ti
mes-Herald, with loud and
startled cries of "Gettapo.e These original articles-found
a wide echo in the
re
d
p
ss an
radio of the world.
nau
I
on the part of someone who wi
h
d
e
s
e
to discr
edit
the
plan,+v
hoped that the widespread publicity would force it into obliv-
ion. If this was the case th
But e intent was nearly successful.
when the leak was c
f
are
ully investigated by the JSC it
was
found to be due to
f
no
ault on the part of either OSS,
the War Department or the Navy De
t
par
ment.
The publicity took place
l
ear
y in February 1945, a date
to be compared with that of the doc
t
umen
itself. Shortly rward the wasealso paper JIC 239/5,
Committee) . The publicizing 000;0 kvoint Strategic Survey
- this document -
removed
su
from the Donovan Plan
which
oth
ec
,
ereafter was once
more
cc
at its face value. P
ed
The one point in the dr
ft
a
which finally stood out as
truly controversial was Donovants insistence that the central-
ized service should exist und
t
er
he direct supervision of the
President. This should be bornnin mind in, making comparisons
of this document with three ..,i,4,.1.
 M+#ORANDU1'L FOR" THE PRESIDENT
18 November 1944
Pursuant to your note of 31 October 1944 I have given.
consideration to the organization of an intelligence service
Lions, the OSS was placed under the direction of the`JGSe
intelligence services were mainly in and for military opera-
In the early days of the war, when the demands upon
for the post-war period.
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once our enemies are defeated the demand will be equally
pressing for information that will aid us in solving.=;the
problems of peace.
1. That intelligence control be returned to .he:.super--
This will require two things:
vision of the President.
directly to you, with responsibility to frame intelligence
2. The establishment of a central authority reporting..
objectives and to collect and coordinate the intelligence
material required by the Executive Branch in planning and
carrying out national policy and strategy.
intelligence (that pertaining primarily to Department action)
centralization are placed at the policy level but operational
I attach in the form of a draft directive (Tab A) the
means by which I think this could be realized without diffi.
culty or loss of time.- You will note that coordination and.
remains within the existing agencies concerned.. The creation
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of a central authority thus would.not conflict with or limit
manent long-range plan. But you may want to consider whether
In accordance with your wish, this is set up as a per-
Department of State and other agencies,
necessary intelligence.'functions within the Army Navy,
The immediate revision and coordination. of our present
may desire to lay the keel of the ship at once,
legislative action. There are common--sense reasons why you
this (or part of it) should be done now, by executive or
intelligence system would effect substantial economies and
aid in the more effibient and speedy termination of the war,
Information important to the national defense, being
personnel needed for the task This talent should not be
We have now in the Government the trained and, specialized
genre system will contribute to informed decisions.
tumult of rehabilitation., An adequate and orderly intelll-
transition which, before we are aware, will take us into the
Though in the midst of war, we are also in a period of
confusion that leads to waste and unnecessary duplication.
strategy level mould prevent waste, and avoid the present
used to full advantage in the war. Coordination at the
gathered now by certain Departments and agencies, is not being
dispersed.
 SUbST1TIVE AUTHORITY RECESS Y
IN ESTABLISHMaT OF A
C NTBAL "TTLLIG, 'NCE SERVICE
In order to coordinate and-centralize the policies
and actions of the Government relating to intelligences
1. There is established in the Executive Office of
the President a central intelligence service, to be
known as the
at the head of which shall
be a Director appointed by the President. The ...Director
shall discharge and perform his functions and duties under
the direction and supervision of the President. Subject
to,the approval of the President, the Director may exercise
his powers, authorities and duties through such officials
or agencies and in such manner as he may determine.
2.. There is established in the
an Advisory Board consisting of the Secretary of State,
the Secretary of Far,. the Secretary of the Navy, and such
other members as the President may subsequently appoint
.-
Th.e Board shall advise and assist the Director with respect
to the formulation of-basic policies and plans of the
3.- . SubJ ect to-the direction and control of the
President,. and with-any necessary advice and assistance
from the other Departments and agencies of the Government
shall perform the following
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functions and dutiesz
(a) Coordination of the functions of all intelligence
Government Departments and agencies, of pertinent infor-
(b) Collection either directly or through existing
national, intelligence efforts;
policies and objectives as will assure the integration of
agencies of the Government, and the establishment of such
enable the Government to deteruine policies with respect
within the Government of the intelligence required to
(c) Final evaluation, synthesis and dissemination
security, policies and interests of the United States;
to the effect such matters may have upon the national
activities of foreign nations, with particular reference
scientific, concerning the ca abilities, intentions and
oration, including military..-economic,, political and
the advancement of broad national Policy;
to national planning and security in peace and war, and
of facilities essential to the collection of information
(f) Determination of policies for and coordination
intelligence personnel;
(e) Subversive operations abroad;
(d.) Procurement, training and supervision of its
under subparagraph 0(b)" hereof p- and
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(g) Such other functions and duties relating to
4. The shall, have no police or
law-enforcement functions, either at home or abroad.
intelligence as the resident from time to tine may direct.
such agencies in the actual performance of their f~unction3
Intelligence, herein defined as intelligence re;uired by
ate, synthesize and disseminate departmental operating
5. Subject to Paaagra h 3 hereof, existing intelli-
Bence agencies within the Government shall collect, evalu-
appropriate specialists for such supervisory and functional
Departments and agencies of the Government to furnish
8. The Director shall be authorized to call upon
and duties.
positions within the
available to the Director such intelligence material, as the
as may be
7. All Government departments and agencies shall take 1
required.
? e shall operate under an
time may requests
A rMh
Director, with the approval Of the president, from time to
~. 'In time of war or unlimited national emergency,
independent budget.
all programs of the
- in areas of actual
or projected military operations shall be coordinated with
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. - - UT
military plans and shall be subject to the approval
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Parts of such programs
which are to be executed in a theater of military
operations shall be subject to the control of the Theater
Coder.
10. Within the limits of such funds as may be made
available to the , the Director
may employ necessary personnel and maize provision for
necessary supplies, facilities and services. The Director
shall be assigned, upon the approval of the President, such
military and naval personnel as m y be required in the
The Director may provide for the internal organization
and at"anage-ment, of the in such manner
as he may determine,
performance of the functions and duties of the
SECR ~T
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2Q(1,10006-
SECRET
Lin
f
u. iat ~Ls 0~lee Jn~ irat d
-
Been ?stabl~.shed B.. {
of^l.? t, ell'eili-a' a~q5~ 'M_ M
political and ilitar.1 aspects..a i `lnenocA and
det llr d by cno it edg (or f or anc) of the aim
. 4 he formation of :stion 1, Policy both in its
ca bilitiat 4 Mentions and p?li,cies of other natioais,
All z ajar powers excel the Unites - tate
fora low ti. Est Pv:;anant- Woridwicie intell jgej
Bt{'.rY-,ce, y report] d'ireic. lY to t higbe alrLest echelons
of their Govern .n; se .rior to t112 ire-sent war, the
united States had no foreign secret intelligence s
Vice- It never had bad and does not now have
coordj l atsed int,31 9e- a S/stem
The defeats and dangers o P thin situation have
been gene lly 2?ect~ ed, Adherence to the follovincrP
Would r"U'lMd
defect in peace. as Ae as War so
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that icazi policy could be based upon imfornation
obtained tiirou? - its o sources on foreig` mtentionsj,
caPabil"ies and develop ants as seen and interpreted
byricaz
.. That each Depirtaent of Gov 'ua it should have
its own iut e .lj ence bureau for the collection and
processing of such infor ittioral seen s). as it finds
necessary in the actual i rfor znoe of its f ct io
axd duties. Juch a b m-,--.au sow be under the sole
eoutrol of the : ep trt nt head and should not be en-
crouched upon or iitaired by the functions Dante a
other ' ntal intelli ence agency. Because .seoret-
int elli ence . coy .. ers ';
all i. d , .mss and because of possible ebbarrassment r no aeeut ive de rt nt a" Pp-:r
.ttecl to en ,-ape in secret intelligence but in a proper
case call upon the central a ency for service,
2. That in addition to the int all.i enc e unit for
each Departaent there should be estub had a mu
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S Awk M& MOIL I
M PHI
NMI
ECAV
centralized foreign intelligence a en f irhich shoulders
the authority:
A. To serve all departn s of the Governuont,a.
Bc- To procure and obtain political., economic,
psyrcholo ;ical, Sociological, mi.llitary and other
informtion which bear upon the r .tional
interest anr, whioh has been collected by t
different Govern ie ta3 Depart oats or agencies.
Cw to collect when necessary supplemental
infortion either at its own instance or.at
the request of any vovern nt al Depurtri nt
by open or secret means frog other ? nd . various
sources
D. To into ate, ana ze, ?ocess and dis-
seminate, to authorized Govern ntal agencies
and officials, intelligence in the fora. of
strategic. interpretive studies
3.. That such an agency should be prohibited froi x
carrying on clandestine activities within the United
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States and should be forbidden iij exercise. any
Police z'~1:~:410~;s eitb.:, at ioue or abroad.
c4.s :~ av spice the nature of its work r,quires
stered wider rnsidezatial direction, or in the re ct
flf a General . a gw ap inted, should be estab-
lished in the cutiv8 Office of the iaresidst, under
his direction,
5. Tbnt subject to the approval of the pro
si dent
or the i~an,, . the policy of such a. service.
should be deterri,ned by the Director with the advice
and assistance of a Ord oa which the Secretaries Of
it to have status. it Should be independent of any
Iepart of the 3oTor nt (since it is obliged
to serve all and t be free of the natUral bias.
of an operating Dei u.'tiaent) e It should be under a
Dizector, minted b the President, and be 'nT .-
State, War, Navy and Treasury should be represented.
That this agency, as the sole ag oy for
secret inc elli>,ence, should be authori.zedt in the
forei field only, to carry oz services such as
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 Approved For Relea
e ,?t nts of Gavernant proper and necessary for the
74 T h a t such a swvice s li o u . l (I have - an in peed t
et granted directly by the Congress,.,-
30 That it should be authori7 to have its own
syste of codes and should be furnished facilities by
of the aarency.
perfor! noe of its duties.
9. That such a service should include in its
staff specialists (within ,. vern: r3tal Departments
s
civil and military,, and in private life) Professional -
trafid in analysis of infortion and Possessing a
m define of list i c, re i, oual or function i
comvetence, to analyze, coordinate and evaluate into
in. iz'ortiong to :e. special intelligence reports,
and to provide guidance for the collecting, branches
a,&tione
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espionage, counter
'm a 77,oZade and those special opera_
tior (including j .e and psycAoio4c,ical) desigrLod
to anticipate and counter 'my attempted Penetration
az-A subversion of our national security en
eW
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StAJUT01
106 That in ti Of war or unlimited national
al tea i of such a4;enxjr In arms 0-f
actual and pt-OjeCteil !ailitar; opnrationu shall be
coordinated with ilitary and shall be subject
to ta ro al of the joint Chiefs of Staff, or if
there be. a conolidi tion. of the ariec1 'services, under
the uprei co ere its of such lwora which
are to be eiecuted in the theater of Idlitary o7 raa
tioxas shall be subject to control of the uilitarY
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EXtraat from "IAdep 44tH Offices Approps'atiemi
act 19450?
"SST. 213. After January to 1945, no Pftwt of az . iae-
ticea or fund made available by this or w W other Act Wual be
allotted or made available to, or used to pay the e2penow of*
any agency or 1nat tallt7 i * ud establish
Mire order after such agency or instrumentality has
in awEstance far sore than one yreear, if the Cou eaes has not
sp ropr ated Only Honey aDecifioally for macA agency or instru
seiatalitW or specifically authorized the exg itwe of fdoda
by it. Par the purposes of this section, any ft=Cy or instm-
MMtality including those established t r Mwmtive order shall
be deemed to hays been in existence during the a ad atex of air
of wr agency or ins t+y, established by & prior Exemtive
order,, if the principal function of both of such agencies or
ins tali ties are substantially the son or similar. Mwn
any agency, or instrammiaity is or has been prevented f a using
@9propriatioeas by reason of this sections no part of any `opri?
ation or fwd made available by this cr any Other Act shall be
used to pay the expenses of the performsMoS. by any Other agency
or instirasentality of functions ehich are substantially the sane
as or similar to the Principal .functions of the ags=v or tnstrn-
mstality so prevented from using appropriations, unless the
Congress has ae authorized the mature of funds
for performing w"ft functioned"
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