Office of the Historian

225. Minutes of the First Meeting of the National Security Council0

Washington, September 26, 1947.

PARTICIPANTS

  • Members Present
  • The President of the United States, presiding
  • James Forrestal, Secretary of Defense
  • Robert A. Lovett, Acting Secretary of State
  • Kenneth C. Royall, Secretary of the Army
  • John L. Sullivan, Secretary of the Navy
  • W. Stuart Symington, Secretary of the Air Force
  • Arthur M. Hill, Chairman, National Security Resources Board
  • Others Present
  • Sidney W. Souers, Executive Secretary, National Security Council
  • Rear Admiral Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter, Director of Central Intelligence

DECISIONS1

1. Policies and Procedures Governing the Activities of the National Security Council

The National Security Council:

Approved the following policies and procedures governing the activities of the Council:

a.
The permanent membership of the Council shall be restricted to those officials whose membership is mandatory under the Act.
b.
The Director of Central Intelligence is authorized to attend all meetings of the Council as an observer and adviser. Attendance by other officials shall be by approval of the presiding officer, requested through the Executive Secretary.
c.
There will be no set schedule of meetings. Meetings will be arranged by the Executive Secretary after approval by the presiding officer.
d.
The affairs of the Council will be conducted with the utmost secrecy.

2. National Security Council Staff (Memorandum for NSC, same subject, transmitted as Tab A to Agenda for 1st Meeting)2

The National Security Council:

a.
Approved the functions, plans and arrangements for the National Security Council Staff outlined in the reference memorandum.
b.
Adopted a resolution authorizing its Executive Secretary to control, supervise, and administer funds which have been or hereafter may be made available to the National Security Council, with full powers with respect thereto, subject to policies established by the Council. (Copy of resolution on record in the office of the Executive Secretary.)

[Page 590]

3. Proposed Initial Directive to the Central Intelligence Agency (Memorandum for NSC from Director of Central Intelligence, subject: “National Security Act of 1947”, dated 19 September 1947, transmitted as Tab B to Agenda for 1st Meeting.)3

The National Security Council:

a.
Approved the recommendations by the Director of Central Intelligence in the reference memorandum.
b.
Authorized the Director of Central Intelligence to submit to the Bureau of the Budget a budget estimate for the fiscal year 1949 (amount on record in the office of the Executive Secretary).

4. Review of the World Situation as it Relates to the Security of the United States (CIA 1)4

The Council noted and discussed the report by the Director of Central Intelligence on the above subject.

5. Initial Study Assignment to the National Security Council Staff (Memorandum for NSC, same subject, transmitted as Tab C to Agenda for 1st Meeting)

The Council approved the recommendation of the Executive Secretary in the reference memorandum.

Sidney W. Souers 5

Executive Secretary
  1. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 273, Records of the National Security Council, NSC Minutes, 1st Meeting. Secret. The meeting was held at the White House.↩
  2. Decisions 1–5 below correspond to NSC Action Nos. 1–5. (Ibid., Record of Actions, Box 55)↩
  3. None of the tabs is printed.↩
  4. Document 222.↩
  5. Dated September 26. (Central Intelligence Agency Records) Reproduced in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman, pp. 139–148.↩
  6. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩