EXTRACT FROM STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL CHESTER W. NIMITZ CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS U. S. NAVY BEFORE THE PRESIDENT S AIR POLICY COMMISSION 12 NOVEMBER 1947

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP58-00597R000100080003-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 15, 2008
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 12, 1947
• Content Type: MISC

Approved For Release 2008/07/15: CIA-RDP58-00597R000100080003-8
Extract from Statement of
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz,
Chief of Naval Operations,
U. S. Navy, Before the
President's Air Policy Com-
mission, 12 November, 19k7.
I would like also to suggest that your Commis-
sion give thought to the importance of intelligence
to our national security. The greater the capa-
bilities of our enemies for sudden attack, the more
important it becomes that our intelligence agencies
and activities be the best that we can devise.
MR. HOYT: Admiral, I noticed with great interest
that you mentioned intelligence. I am sure you will
agree with me that in a democracy we have a military
establishment in direct ratio to the need for it; in
other words, to the potential danger. I would like
to ask you if you have been satisfied with our present
intelligence. In other words, I would like to know
whether you think we know enough about what foreign
powers are doing?
ADMIRAL NIMITZ: As you know, Mr. Hoyt, we have
recently set up the intelligence agency under the
National Security Act of 19+7, and that agency is still
very young and in process of being formed. I think it
is too early to make any estimate of whether that is
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 Approved For Release 2008/07/15: CIA-RDP58-00597R000100080003-8
deficient. By the very nature of its subject, no
one person, again, would know whether it is effective
or not, and I do not think they should know.
Approved For Release 2008/07/15: CIA-RDP58-00597R000100080003-8