Foreign Relations of the United States, 1945–1950, Emergence of the Intelligence Establishment

138. Minutes of the First Meeting of the Intelligence Advisory Board⁰

Washington, February 4, 1946, 3:30 p.m.

PARTICIPANTS

• Rear Admiral Sidney W. Souers, Director of Central Intelligence, in the Chair
• Members Present
• Mr. Alfred McCormack, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State in Charge of Research and Intelligence
• Brig. Gen. John Weckerling (representing Lt. Gen. Hoyt Vandenberg, Assistant Chief of Staff, G–2, WDGS)
• Rear Admiral Thomas B. Inglis, Chief of Naval Intelligence
• Brig. Gen. John A. Samford, Acting Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence
• Also Present
• Capt. Thomas F. Cullen, USNR
• Capt. W. B. Goggins, USN
• Mr. L. L. Montague, Department of State
• Col. E. P. Mussett, USA
• Col. C. P. Nicholas, USA
• Col. W. A. Perry, USA
• Secretary
• Mr. James S. Lay, Jr., Department of State

1. Proposed Policies and Procedures Governing the Central Intelligence Group

The paper¹ was discussed paragraph by paragraph.

Admiral Inglis questioned whether paragraph 3, on the composition of the Intelligence Advisory Board, permitted other officials of the State, War and Navy Departments, such as the Director of Naval Communications, to participate in meetings of that Board. After discussion and amendment

The Intelligence Advisory Board:

a. Concurred in the paper as amended at the meeting. (Subsequently circulated as N.I.A. 1.)²

b. Agreed that the wording of paragraph 3 does not preclude membership by heads of other intelligence agencies of the State, War and Navy Departments, but that each case will be decided on its merits by agreement between the Director of Central Intelligence and the permanent members of the Intelligence Advisory Board.

2. Proposed Tentative Organization of the Central Intelligence Group

The paper was discussed and amended.

The Intelligence Advisory Board:

Concurred in the paper as amended, subject to a revision of Appendix “A” so that the totals would be approximately 40 each for State and Navy, and 80 for War. (Subsequently circulated as N.I.A. 2.)³

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC–281. Confidential. The meeting was held in the New War Department Building.
1. A draft of NIA Directive No. 1, not found.
2. Appended to a February 4 covering memorandum from Souers to the NIA. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 58 D 776) See the Supplement.
3. The paper discussed was the enclosure to Souers’ February 2 memorandum to the NIA. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 58 D 776) See the Supplement. A version circulated as NIA 2, dated February 5, is in the National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Leahy Papers. See the Supplement. Appendix “A” dealt with personnel assignments.