125. Memorandum From the President’s Chief of Staff (Leahy) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg)0
August 12th Attorney General Clark sent Mr. Tamm of F.B.I. to see me in regard to providing reliefs for the F.B.I. intelligence agents now in Latin America.1 The Attorney General wishes that the provision of National Intelligence Agents be expedited as much as possible and the President wishes us to comply.
F.B.I. needs its agents for work here within the United States.
Positive objection was expressed to our having sent ex-F.B.I. men to discuss our common problems with F.B.I.
It would appear advantageous for the Director of C.I. himself to make all contacts with Mr. Hoover, and that ex-F.B.I. men now in the C.I. Group should certainly not be used for such contacts.
Granting that there will be a temporary reduction of efficiency by an early relief of F.B.I. agents in Latin America, it is my opinion that the reliefs can be accomplished at a much earlier date than as at present scheduled and that it should be done.
It is certain that we should not employ in the C.I.G. any persons now in F.B.I., and it is my opinion that to avoid offending Mr. Hoover we should not hereafter, without specific approval in each instance by the Authority, employ any persons who at any time separated themselves from F.B.I.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Leahy Papers, No. 131. Secret.↩
- See Document 124.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩