DEAR ADMIRAL HILLENKOETTER:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-01143A000400010005-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2001
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: April 1, 1948
• Content Type: LETTER

OFFICE OF
TILE DIRECTOR
Approved Foielease 2002/06/11 : CIA-RDP79-011400400010005-3
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
WASHINGTON 25
CONFIDENTIAL
Rear Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter
Director of Central Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
April 1, 1948
Dear Admiral Hillenkoetter:
The Bureau of the Census has been interested for a number
of years in the general problems relating to the statistics of foreign
population and manpower, the subject of your letter of March 16, 1948?
I have read with interest the memorandum which was prepared
by your Inter Agency Committee on Population and Manpower Studies.
There is no question but that steps should be taken in the immediate
future to provide for a coordinated inter-agency plan for the collec-
tion, evaluation and dissemination of information on this subject.
Such information is needed now, and will be needed even more in the
future, both for international intelligence and the efficient opera-
tion of American programs abroad.
We are in complete accord with the recommendations of your
Inter-Agency Committee for the establishment of a central working unit
in the Bureau of the Census to acquire and process statistical informa-
tion on foreign population and manpower. Although it would be necessary
to recruit additional professional personnel in order to provide such
a group, the Bureau would willingly undertake this task and would make
available its present staff of population experts in various fields
for consultation and advice on technical problems. (Our staff is now
preparing for the 1950 Census of the United States.) In addition, the
Bureau's contacts with foreign statistical offices and international
organizations would be at the disposal of this group. For several
years the Bureau of the Census has maintained, in cooperation with the
Library of Congress, a project for the preparation of bibliographies of
foreign statistical materials which also could facilitate the work of
such a group.
As you know, the organization of such a group in our Bureau
would present several administrative problems, the most important of
which would be the matter of finance. Unfortunately, no provision has
been made in either our 1948 or 1949 budgets for work of this type.
In view of the essentiality of the work, however, I believe that it
should be possible to find some funds for such work. Once the major
problem of financing is solved, we would be glad to proceed with the
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Rear Admiral R. H. Hillenkoetter
April 1, 194
recruitment of a few professionally trained personnel to supplement
our existing staff and the ;provision of suitable space and equipment
for this specialized group.
I wish to suggest that we discuss the more specific features
of this plan personally within the next week. I should be glad to
come to your office during the next week at such time as you may be
free for conference on this subject.
Sincerely yours,
J. C. Capt
Director
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