NOTES ON CONVERSATION WITH RESPECT TO COMMITTEE STRUCTURE FOR COORDINATING INTELLIGENCE RESEARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64-00658A000100270004-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2000
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 26, 1946
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/07/26 : CIA-RDP64-00658A000100270004-5
Notes on Conversations with Respect to Committee
Structure for Coordinating Intelligence Research
26 June 1946
Hollis W. Peter, Chief,. Food and Agriculture Section,, CCL, State
1. Collection and research can be separated but if they are separated
the two groups should be so closely knitted that both are fully aware of
both problems. In his section the analysts do most of,the collecting
though at times he has used other sources to collect mat-rials. Believes
the best results are obtained when collection is so closely allied with
research there is little difference in personnel.
2. Definitely thinks that main organization should be on a functional
basis; believes that five or six main divisions should be adequate if
there can be an adequate definition for problems to be properly classified.
Probably the next lower step !.11 have to be functional but below that
point the division will probably have to be geographical in order to reach
the personnel familiar with the area. There might be some large problems
which would overlap several or more top functional groups, thus requiring
a separate committee for that one item. Food and agriculture has become
such an international problem and subject of discussion there should
certainly be some organization for it; it is an economic, political, and
social science problem.
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26 June 19146
Paul W. Icke, Chief, Minerals Section, OCL, State
1. Collection and research should be combined as only analyst knows
what is wanted and where to get it, particularly for foreign materials.
He has had little success in obtaining materials through a separate
organization such as CCI1 so he collects material himself; has had little
ulty in obtaining what he wants if it is available,
2. Organization for research and collection should be organized
functionally, He could not attempt to do his work on a geographical
as one mineral may be scattered over many countries in djffPrent
parts of the world. Each individual in his section exclusively handles
one or more minerals and if a .problem arises
formation is needed
on:all minerals in one area, all the individuals pool their results. To
of any one mineral for one country, such as France;, you have to
France, to North Africa, to Asia, to South America. The only
geographical control he has is in language interpreters.
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 Approved For Release 2001/07/26 : CIA-RDP64-00658A000100270004-5
26 June 1946
Walter J. ,
tel Special Assistan
Collection and research should be under one control as a combined
activity. W.
individual doing research has an intimate knowledge
of what is needed, and usually knows where to obtain it. Separat
collection and research only causes duplication of effort and often a
separate collection agency does not obtain what is desired. The research
staff usually knows the beat way and methods to obtain .information bearing
on a particular subject,
2. Organization for research and collection should chiefly be divided
geographical, with possible additional committees for important items
like petroleum. Items like foreign industrial resources and foreign
establishments should definitely be on a geographical basis as no
individual is conversant with any one industry throughout the world;
however, there might have to be some functional and geographical coordin-
ation for some items like petroleum in Russia which would require combined
is of petroleum persons and Russian. experts. If top committees are
not geographical they should be such below the top.
the geographical
division the research personnel become expert in the one field - economi
political - and have a good working knowledge of - other features in the
area.
o or more geographic areas are involved in the problem, an
ad hoc committee or just a working agreement can be established. Levy
believes most working committees should be on an ad hoc basis-
afraid of too much committee structure.
Approved For Release 2001/07/26 : CIA-RDP64-00658A000100270004-5