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

191. Memorandum by the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Wright)⁰

Washington, March 28, 1947.

CIG-A-605

SUBJECT

• Establishment and Functions of the Nuclear Energy Group, Scientific Branch, Office of Reports and Estimates

1. The Assistant Director for Reports and Estimates will establish immediately a Nuclear Energy Group within the Scientific Branch of his office.

2. In carrying out its mission, the Chief, Nuclear Energy Group, will follow the functional organization and procedure of CIG so far as security restrictions incident to his relations with the Atomic Energy Commission will permit.

3. The mission of the Nuclear Energy Group, Scientific Branch, ORE, will be:

a. To conduct and coordinate the necessary research and evaluation of intelligence information and intelligence pertaining to the development of nuclear energy by foreign nations.

b. To establish CIG requirements for intelligence information and intelligence pertaining to foreign developments in nuclear energy.

c. To prepare estimates of the nuclear energy capabilities and intentions of foreign nations for coordination with and incorporation in intelligence of national interest.

d. To represent exclusively the Director of Central Intelligence on all contacts with the Atomic Energy Commission.

e. As the AEC may specify, to be the point of contact on nuclear intelligence matters between the Atomic Energy Commission and other governmental intelligence agencies.

f. To receive from the Atomic Energy Commission all requirements for foreign intelligence on nuclear energy which are required by that Commission. All such requirements received from the Atomic Energy Commission, their processing, and the intelligence produced will be subject to such special security restrictions as the Commission and the Director of Central Intelligence may find necessary.

4. In order to promote technical coverage and effect the required special security, the Chief, Nuclear Energy Group, is authorized:

a. To monitor and control all nuclear energy intelligence information and intelligence received by CIG. In so doing, he will place a representative in the Reading Center of the Office of Collection and Dissemination. Except as otherwise personally directed by the Director of Central Intelligence, he is solely responsible for final determination of dissemination of nuclear energy intelligence. He himself will disseminate such special nuclear energy intelligence as security restrictions make necessary.

b. To review and approve all collection directives prepared by OCD which relate to nuclear energy.

c. To coordinate directly, when essential for technical or security reasons, with U.S. governmental agencies other than the AEC and IAB agencies.

d. To maintain such direct relationship with the Office of Special Operations as both intelligence operations and special security require.

e. To maintain, when essential for technical or security reasons, direct contacts with industries, institutions and individuals which have special significance to the Nuclear Energy Group, coordinating such contacts with the Office of Operations so as to avoid duplication of effort and provide maximum coverage in this field.

f. To coordinate with the Security Branch, OCD, on establishment of special policies and routine safeguards on nuclear energy intelligence.

E.K. Wright ¹

Brig Gen

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC–100, Item 5. Secret. Addressed to the CIG Assistant Directors for Reports and Estimates, Collection and Dissemination, Operations, and Special Operations and the Chief, Interdepartmental Coordinating and Planning Staff.
1. Printed from a copy that indicates Wright signed the original.