MERGER OF BRITISH ARMED SERVICES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000100090039-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 19, 2009
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: October 7, 1946
• Content Type: MEMO

% JJ bL L VVCiMUf'"GGTWWfI e UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Approved For Release 2009/02/19: CIA-RDP90-0061 OR000100090039-6
To Executive to Director
FROM : Chief, Legislative Liaison Branch
SUBJECT: Merger of British Armed Services
DATE: 7 October 1946
1. Attention is called to the publication in London on 4 October
1946 of a British Government White Paper announcing that the three service:
of the British armed forces will be coordinated under a single Ministry of
Defense to "be headed by Mr. A. V. Alexander. -
2. The 'r?hite Paper announced that Parliament, when it convones this
week, will be asked to create the new Cabinet position of Minister of Defense.
3. Under this plan the First Lord of the Admiralty and the
Secretaries of State for War and Air will lose their Cabinet status. Hower,
they will continue to function as heads of their respective services.
4. The functions of the Defense Ministry will include interservace
organizations, including the Joint Intelligence Bureau.
5. In addition, the press reports, the functions of the new Defense
linistry to include the general apportionment of available resources, the
framing of a general policy for research and development,, the correla=.ion of
production programs, and the settlement of questions of general admin;wstra 1.urt
where a connnon policy for the three services is desirable.
STAT
WALTER L. PFORZ IM
Chief, Legislative Liaison Branch
Approved For Release 2009/02/19: CIA-RDP90-0061 OR000100090039-6