224. Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Lovett to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter0
SUBJECT
- Your memorandum of 11 September 1947 regarding the National Security Act of 19471
1. I am in agreement with your recommendation (1–a) to the effect that all directives of the National Intelligence Authority and of the Central Intelligence Group be continued in full force and effect until the National Security Council has had an opportunity to study the problem and to make any changes that they may consider desirable.
2. I also approve your recommendation (1–b) to the effect that the Director of Central Intelligence Agency submit, within sixty days, his proposal for National Security Council directives to bring the former directives of the National Intelligence Authority and of the Central Intelligence Group into line with the National Security Act of 1947. In this connection, however, I would suggest that this report by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency be coordinated with the Intelligence Advisory Board to insure the prior consideration of the problem by the chiefs of the intelligence services of the several Departments whose concurrence would thus be expedited.
3. With regard to recommendation (1–c) to the effect that a subcommittee of the National Security Council be established to act similarly to the previous National Intelligence Authority, with special responsibility to direct the Central Intelligence Agency, it would seem to me that, in principle, this is a very useful and practical suggestion. In view of the fact that the Central Intelligence Agency will be the only inter-departmental intelligence agency authorized to coordinate peacetime political and economic intelligence with the intelligence program of the Armed Forces, it would seem to me very important that the Department of the Government, responsible for foreign affairs, the protection of our foreign commercial interests, and the maintenance of friendly diplomatic relations [Page 588] with all other countries, should be fully represented. The Armed Forces, for their part, have a further coordinating, and common intelligence agency, in the Joint Intelligence Committee of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
I would, therefore, suggest that the proposed subcommittee to direct the Central Intelligence Agency be composed of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of National Defense, with a personal representative of the President, if that should be the President’s desire. It will be recalled that the National Intelligence Authority included the Secretary of State as Chairman, and a personal representative of the President.
4. With regard to the recommendation contained in paragraph 2, it would seem to me essential that the Director of Central Intelligence be present as a non-voting member at all meetings of the subcommittee of the National Security Council established to direct the Central Intelligence Agency. It would seem to me also desirable that he attend meetings of the National Security Council as an adviser or observer.
- Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945–49, 101.61/9–1147. Confidential. Drafted by William A. Eddy on September 18. Attached was a vote slip form, signed by Lovett and addressed to the secretary of the NIA, indicating Department of State approval of the September 11 memorandum subject to Lovett’s comments. Under the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947, the Central Intelligence Group became the Central Intelligence Agency on September 19, and Hillenkoetter became the Agency’s first Director of Central Intelligence on September 20.↩
- Document 220.↩
- Printed from a copy that indicates Lovett signed the original.↩