60. Memorandum From the Chief of the Operations Division, War Department General Staff (Craig) to Secretary of War Patterson0
Washington, December 24, 1945.
SUBJECT
- Central Intelligence Agency
It is proposed that the War Department accept the State Department proposal subject to the following amendments:
- a.
- The statements of functions of the National Intelligence Authority to provide that synthesis and evaluation on a national level and direct procurement of intelligence are recognized as functions of the National Intelligence Authority, subject to the right of the Authority to direct that any of such operations be decentralized when and if that course appears more appropriate at any time.
- b.
- A provision to be inserted that the Executive Secretary shall consider and explore the advisability of legislation establishing an independent Central Intelligence Agency under the direction of the Authority, with an independent budget, and shall make recommendations thereon to the Authority prior to June 30, 1946.
- c.
- That paragraph 12 of the McCormack proposal, dealing with Advisory Groups, be changed to provide only one such group having generally the composition and functions of the National Intelligence Board outlined in the War Department plan. This modification is thought necessary to insure that the Chiefs of the intelligence agencies of the service departments will actively support the Authority.