LETTER TO THE HONORABLE CLARENCE CANNON FROM WILLIAM D. LEAHY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2006
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: May 25, 1945
• Content Type: LETTER

Aqprov d For Release 2006/08/31: CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1
JCS Declassification/Felease j Al
Instructions on File
r
*?
M OD CC
00
>- O l C W
; ro cry
ASS Archives File
3udgot 1946
Letter from Adm. Leahy to
The Honorable Clarence Cannon
ABD - 2/1/52
The Honorable
Clarence Cannon,
Chairman,
House Appropriations Ccanittee.
25 May 1945.
Ny dear *Mr. Cannon:
Pursuant to your request, tranaYnitted orally by Mr. John R. Pugh,.
for a statement as to whether or not General MacArthur and Admiral
Nimitz desire the services of the Office of Strategic Services in the
Pacific war, the following messages from General. MacArthur and Admiral
Nimitz are quoted for your information.
From General MacArthur, Commanding Southwest Pacific
"No statement has emanated from this headquarters nor so
far as known from this area in comment on OSS. Any items that
may have appeared in the press along this line must be regarded
as speculative conjecture.
"The OSS has not up to the present time operated within
this area, I know little of its methods, have no control of its
agencies, and consequently have no plans for its future employment."
From Admiral Nimitz, Commanding Pacific Ocean Areass
Areas which has been primarily naval, amphibious, and aerial,
the employment of the agencies of the office of Strate.e
Services in the Pacific Ocean Areas has been very limited.
0
1.
of
2
ca
Z3
n
Enclosure "C"
Approved For Release 2006/08/31 : CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1 1 L % Dl~
"The minor services rendered could have been rendered
equally effectively by appropriate agencies of the, War and
Navy Departments.
"Although OSS has been anxious to assist and cooperate
it is my considered opinion that better results would have been
obtained and can be obtained in the future if the missions now
assigned to the OSS are reassigned to the War and Navy Depart-
ments insofar as the Pacific Ocean Areas are concerned.
 Approved For Release 2006/08/31: CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1
"I have no adequate basis for cement on the need for
the OSS in lard campaigns in large land masses."
in addition to the foregoing1 there are also quoted for your
information the following messages in the same connection from General
Wedeaneyeri General Sultan and General McNarn :
From General Wedemeyers, Commanding U.S. Army Forces, China
Theaters
"Inasmuch as OSS and Navy Group China are the only Anerican
organizations in this theater trained aad capable of carrying out
deaolitions,, commando operations and clandestine intelligence
activity# it is considered that the potential value of OSS to
this theater is high.
"Presently authorized for OSS is a strength of 2000 United
States personnel in this theater and this number is being approached
rapidly. When OSS reaches authorized strength and its efforts are
closely integrated with offensive operations intended feel certain
their approved projects will materially assist theater in its assigned
mission.
"085 is now training 20 Cam undo Groups and intelligence teams
and will furnish United States personnel to these units as advisors.
These groups and others already trained are to be charged with re-
sponsible missions in direct support of contemplated future plans."
From General Sultans Commanding U.S. An r' Forces,, India-
Burma Theaters
"During the recent campaign in north Burma, OSS furnished
most effective assistance, by organizing Kachin irregulars to
provide intelligence aid to harass end" lines of conmmunications.
Now that this campaign has endeds the OSS Detachment which carried
out this useful work is being transferred to China Theater.
"Although OSS has furnished certain limited assistance to
British operations in the Arakans, its combat role in farther
Southeast Asia Command operations in Burma is negligible and cai
be disregarded.
"At the present time, the primary mission of the India-Burma
Theater is to support China Theater. OSS is not required by IBT
for the execution of this mission.
"Insofar as OSS activities in this theater are concerned, it
is believed that the functions presently being performed by OSS
would be more economically and efficiently accomplished were the
existing organization changed to bring OSS wholly within the War
and Navy Departanentsj, thus insuring control through normal comuand
channels."
Approved For Release 2006/08/31 : Cf7T-RDP83-01034RO00200090019-1
 Approved For Release 2006/08/31: CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1
From General McNarney, Deputy Supreme Allied Coamnander,
i oditerraneans
"office of Strategic Services activities in this theater
have been to carry out special operations and to provide secret
Intelligence.
"These activities contributed greatly to the success of our
operations in Iialy and could not have been performed effectively
in the absence of trained OSS personnel and facilities.
n05S personnel did an outstanding job in directing and co-
ordinating Partisan activities and their facilities were indispen-
sable in the negotiations culminating in the German surrender in
Italy.
"So long as the situation in Italy, Austria, and the Balkans
remains unstable,, it is essential to continue the secret intelli-
gence activities of OSS in this Theater.
"Special operations,; howeverg are no longer required and
accordingly the OSS staff in the Mediterranean Theater of
Operations can be reduced, on the basis of a rough estimate,
to approximately 20% in, 191.4 of its average Mediterranean
Theater of Operations strength for the fiscal year 19450 Recom-
mend that office of Strategic Services be provided with sufficient
funds 'i.n the fiscal year 1916 to continue their reduced activities
in Mediterranean Theater and to permit trained 0S5 personnel to
be redeployed to the Pacific."
Trusting that the above will give you the information desired..
Sincerely yours,
For the Joint Chiefs of Staffs
/s/
WIILIAM D. LEAHY,
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Chief of Staff to the
Cc*mnander in Chief of the Army arrd Navy.
-3-
Approved For Release 2006/08/31: CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1
 Approved For Release 2006/08/31 : CIA-RDP83-01034ROO0200
4
A ed For Release 2006/08/31: CIA-RDP83-01034R000200090019-1