MATERIAL PROPOSED BY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE FOR INCLUSION IN THE PRESIDENT'S 'STATE OF THE UNION' MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, JA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000100030004-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: January 1, 1947
• Content Type: STATEMENT

Approved For Release 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP90-0061OR0001000300
MATERIAL PROPOSED BY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTLEJZGENCE
FOR INCLUSION IN TI -PRESIDENT'S "STAVE OF Ti UNION'a
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, JANUARY 1947.
The vital and urgent need of this nation for effective
foreign intelligence has been amply demonstrated both by our pre-war
and war-time experiences. This need has been recognized in the
Congress by a number of bipartisan committee recommendations. During
this a+tomic age in .hieh the United States has pledged its fullest
energies to the establishment and maintenance of a just anEi lasting
peace, our statesmen who are charged with this heavy responsibility
must not be asked to steer the ship of state over an uncharted cosec
The difficult and far-reaching decisions they are called upon to make
must be based upon a clear knowledge and understanding of present
and probable future developments in other countries if we are to live
with them in peace and security. We have also learned from bitter
experience that responsibility must be placed on one agency to ensure
that this essential information pertaining to our interests in foreign
lands is collected, interpreted and distributed to appropriate officials
in cooperation with existing facilities such as the Foreign Service.
Therefore, in line with the apparent desires of the Con tress and in
view of the demonstrated urgency, I directed last January the establish-
ment of a National Intelligence Authority composed of the Secretaries
of State, War and the Navy and my personal representative, Fleet Ad raj
Leahy, to plan, develop and coordinate all Federaal foreign inte31lgesce
activities. To assist this Authority, there was created a Central.
Intelligence Group under a Director of Centro Intelligence wha was
charged with performing those intelligence services of coon concern
which could be more efficiently accomplished centrally, including
coordination of departmental intelligence activities, and the productl~xn
and dissemination to appropriate Government officials of strategic and
national policy intelligence. This organization during its year of
existence has clearly proved itself an effective and essential instrument
of Government. To realize its full capabilities,, however, this agency
should have the benefit of permanent authorization from the Congress.
I therefore urgently recommend that Congress give early consideration
to the passage of enabling legislation for the National Intelligence
Authority and a Central Intelligence Agency so that never in the future
will our national interests or security, be placed in jeopardy far lack
of accurate and timely intelligence concerning foreign developments.
Approved For Release 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP90-0061 OR000100030004-6
 Approved For Release. 2006/10/20: CIA-RDP90-0061 OR000100030004-6
wub ect: Proposed enabling legislation for the establi.