WAR PLANNERS CONFERENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00634A000100050002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: January 1, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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WAR
PLANNERS
CONFERENCE
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S
Forw( ,rd.
Lectures
Seminars and Resume
Conclustions
TABS:
A. Opening Remarks by the DD/P
B. Closing Remarks by the DDCI
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1. FGit,EW0RD
1. The purpose of the War Planners Conference, 1959, was to
provide a forum at which views on both general and limited war planning
problems could be exchanged, between representatives of Headquarters
planning staffs and the field. Formal lectures were scheduled in order
to familiarize all concerned with current devebapments and recent changes
in concepts and policy. Way Planners were then brought together in
small seminars to discuss specific planning problems and to develop
solutions or future courses of action wherever possible.
2. Emphasis was placed on the seminar approach in order to pro-
vide planners the maximum opportunity for personal contact., to exchange
views, ask questions, and to permit informal clarification and amplification
of planning matters.
3. The Conference was not designed to be a refresher course on
war planning, but rather a series of preplanned working seminars to dis-
cuss problems requested by representatiives from headquarters and the
Senior War Planners.
4. The primary value of the Conference will result from the
beneficial effect of closer agreement and understanding an the part of
all planners. This will be reflected in the improved future production
of the field and headquarters plans. It is hoped this report will serve
to remind the participants of current planning problems and of the
suggestions made for solving them.
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IL LECTURES
1. A series of 15 lectures was arranged for the War Planners
Conference. The audience was limited to about 50 persons, and the subject
matter and speakers were chosen to orient the conferees as to recent de-
velopments and policy changes in the various aspects of War Planning.
2 The Conference was opened with an address by the DD/P,
Mr. Richard M. Bissell. Tab A is a summary of Mr. Bissell's remarks.
3. The lecture subjects and speakers were as follows:
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4. The Conference was closed by remarks from the DDCJ,
Gen. Cabell. Tab B 1s a summary of Gen. Cabell? s remarks and the
question period that, followed. Lecture outlines for all presentations
are available upon, request..
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III. SEMINARS' AND RESUME
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1. The subjects for the 30 Seminar Meetings were chosen from
seminar agenda items submitted by the overseas Senior War Planners
and the various Headquarters elements. An effort was made to keep the
Seminar groups small in number, and they were scheduled in small
conference rooms to promote an informal atmosphere. Each Seminar
was assigned a specific objective and a planned discussion outline was
prepared.
2. Seminar Leaders were appointed to get the discussions started
and to keep the comments generally in line with the predetermined dis-
cussion items. Seminar Leaders were provided with copies of pertinent
background papers for distribution to the conferees.
3. A copy of the Conference Schedule has been forwarded to all
addressees.
4. The salient accomplishments of the Seminar sessions are as
follows:
a. Seminar 1 - Wartime Organization and Planning
Procedures, Euroe: This Headquarters has provided to the
Senior War Planner Europe a suggestion for a new planning
procedure to be implemented within his area of responsibility.
This takes into consideration the redetermination of the
geographic areas composed of EE, SE, NE, and AFR. Four
nc
a general understanding has been reached for the execution
of this proposed planning procedure in the immediate future.
b. Seminar 2 - UW Requirements, Pacific: In the future,
the Senior War Plan ner Pacific wi 1 be informally advised of
tentative acceptances of Unconventional Warfare requirements
for informational reasons. SWPPAC would take required
action to inform field stations of the tentative acceptances,
thereby expediting the process for final and formal acceptances
by Headquarters.
were designated as wartime
rea Commanders. During this War Planners Confere
e
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c. Seminar 3 - UW Requirements, Europe: It is considered
that the procedures employed in handling the revised. UW requirements,
which are being prepared for submission to the JCS, have been greatly
improved through the addition of considerable detailed information pro-
vided on the acceptance forms to the Joint Staff and to the SWPso It
was proposed that CIA should consider the preparation of a request to
the Joint Staff that future military requirements should be provided
wherever possible on more of a general mission basis instead of in
the form of requests for specific missions, which is the current form
in which they are received.
d. Seminar 4 - Wartime Organization and Planning Procedures,
Pacific: Senior War Planner Pacific concurred in the recommendation
for the production of a single multipurpose plan at country level to
support both the Contingency Plan and General Emergency Operations
Plan. However, it was recognized that under a situation when the
U. S. might send forces into a country on a unilateral basis, two plans
for that particular country would be necessary. As a general rule,
however, one plan as proposed appears to be the best solution.
e. Seminars 5 and 7 - Clandestine Intelligence and Counter-
intelligence: This Headquarters has previously recommended to
the SWPs that the SWPs and field stations, in coordination with the
theater comma,iiders, work out the acceptance of clandestine in-
telligence requirements at the field level and that only the list of
those requirements which could not be accepted, either by CIA or
military elements in the field, would be submitted to this Head-
quarters by the Joint Staff. An understanding was reached that
the SWPs would continue to try to develop this procedure in
coordination with the military for the preparation of future clan-
destine intelligence requirements. Clandestine intelligence
requirements received from the Pacific and from Europe are not
considered to be realistic and were not properly coordinated during
their preparation with SWPs, as was proposed to the JCS by this
Headquarters. The requirements received from the Pacific area
are less acceptable than those received from Europe. The Seminars
brought out the problems of staffing these requirements, and the
possibility exists that they will be returned to the Joint Staff for
revision.
fo Seminars 6 and 8 - 10 Planning: The Senior War Planners
were briefed on 10 Division planning requirements and capabilities
in the Pacific and in Europe. It was emphasized that war plannin
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In response to JCS request, has been designated 25X1A9A
as point of contact for EUCOM for Psychological Warfare, as well as
FI and UW planning.
g. Seminars 9 and 12 - War Gaming: During the discussion
of war gaming, numerous suggestions for general improvement of
the conduct of Exercises were offered. A great interest in and
increased understanding of this problem were demonstrated in the
discussion of planning, preparations, and communications. A
general understanding was reached concerning a greater emphasis
on CIA's participation in these fields; also that the Senior War
Planner will provide future war gaming reports in much greater
detail.
h. Seminars 10 and 11 - Legal Appendix: These Seminars
demonstrated a need for a Legal Appendix, coordinated with
Department of Defense, and further delineated problem areas to
be investigated with respect to security and the situation that
would arise when the CIA Force Commander is a civilian.
i. Seminars 13 and 15 - Evacuation and Relocation: Senior
War Planners and Headquarters representatives in their dis-
cussions clarified the responsibilities of the Military, Department
of State, and. CIA for the preparation of noncombatant evacuation
plans. The present status of State, Defense, and CIA planning
regarding the evacuation of selected key indigenous persons was
discussed. It was determined that future courses of action would
be delineated following publication of the revised State policy on
this subject. The new draft Agency Relocation Directive was
discussed.
j. Seminars 14 and 16 - Target Analysis: These seminars
oriented the Senior War Planners concerning the current status
of the Intelligence Studies produced by TAB and ORR. Require-
ments for future studies, particularly in the field of Operational
Intelligence, were discussed and a general understanding was
reached that a continuing requirement will exist for preparation
of these studies.
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k. Seminars 17 and 20 - Base Planning, These Seminars
emphasized the need for flexibili it the concepts of base planning
due to radioactive fallout patterns and other aspects of global war.
Headquarters support planners encouraged Senior War Planner
representatives to commence the preparation of material require-
merits for base planning and to develop plans for the utilization of
transportable base units. It was suggested that the support planner
SWPE should be permitted to approach CINCNELM and request
that assistance from Naval installations in the Mediterranean be
provided for inclusion in base planning.
to Seminars 18 and 19 - Contingency Planning, The
discussions emphasized the specific need for the development of
CIA plans to support the Military, not only in combat situations
but also in situations short of combat for which Theater Commanders
have developed operational plans. A general understanding was
reached that a CIA component of a unified subordinate command in-
volved in contingency war planning would retain operational control
of its own forces, and that the CIA component should receive military
support requirements from the unified subordinate command in the
form of mission-type directives,
m. Seminar 21 - Middle East War Planning, The current
status of the proposed shift of war planning responsibility for the
Middle East from SWPE to C/NE was reported. Ideas relative
to the accomplishment of this shift of responsibilities were
exchanged.
n. Seminar 22 - JUWTF Planning, Pacific-. This Seminar
demonstrated that it was desirable to establish joint UW planning
groups in the CINCPAC area; however, CINCPAC has not yet
determined the method to initiate this action. The SWPPAC will
continue to press for early action by C NCPAC on this matter.
o. Seminar 23 - Annex I, USEUCOM OPLAN 100-2o The
discussion in this Seminar reflected the general agreement that
the present JCS position should be changed to reflect the CIA
exceptions. A paper, raising CIA reservations, will be forwarded
to the JCS for consideration. (This has since been accomplished.)
25X1 C10B p. Seminars 24 and 25 Su
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t pl
pp
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anning, These Seminars
reported progress in planning for TSS Requirements, Wartime
Tables of Organization, Security, Communications, Airlift
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q. Seminars 26 and 28 - Meetings with JCS: These Seminars
provided an opportunity for the CIA planners to-meet with repre-
sentatives of the JCS. Among the items emphasized were the
usefulness to the Military of Annex A to the CIA Global War Plan
and the need for care in selecting military personnel for Project
USEFUL. In discussing clandestine intelligence collection require-
ments, it was the consensus, on both sides, that the requirements
should be returned to the JCS pending the receipt of more suitable
requirements, which will be prepared by theater commanders
based on the newly issued instructions of the JCS.
r. Special Seminar - Security Planning- A special unscheduled
Seminar was held by the Office of Security. The Emergency and
War Plan of the Office of Security and the mission of security planning
were explained to the Senior War Planners.
5. Detailed recorders' reports of seminar periods are available upon
request.
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q. Seminars 26 and 28 - Meetings with JCS: These Seminars
provided an opportunity for the CIA planners to meet with repre-
sentatives of the JCS. Among the items emphasized were the
usefulness to the Military of Annex A to the CIA Global War Plan
and the need for care in selecting military personnel for Project
USEFUL. In discussing clandestine intelligence collection require-
ments, it was the consensus, on both sides, that the requirements
should be returned to the JCS pending the receipt of more suitable
requirements, which will be prepared by theater commanders
based on the newly issued instructions of the JCS.
r. Special Seminar - Security Planning: A special unscheduled
Seminar was held by the Office of Security. The Emergency and
War Plan of the Office of Security and the mission of security planning
were explained to the Senior War Planners.
5. Detailed recorders' reports of seminar periods are available upon
request.
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IV. CONCLUSIONS
1. It is considered that the War Planners Conference was highly
successful as a mechanism for the discussion of Headquarters and field
planning problems and for the exchange of ideas between War Planners
and other Clandestine Services personnel. This Conference made
maximum use of preplanned seminar periods, which are believed to
be the most effective means of ensuring systematic coverage of all
important agenda items in the time allowed. Seminars should, therefore,
be emphasized in future conferences.
2. Senior War Planners and Headquarters elements were solicited
in advance to provide problem areas to be presented and discussed during
t ids conference. In order to ensure maximum effective use of available
conference time, future conferences should be scheduled on this basis.
3. New planning directives to SWPE and the increased emphasis
on contingency planning is expected to result in the need for the prep-
aration of additional plans, with an accompanying increase in planning
problems.
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13 April 1959
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
1. On 16 March 1959, Mr. Richard Bissell, DD/P, addressed the
War Planners Conference. A brief summary of his comments is as
follows-
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2. Mr. Bissell spoke on internal DD/P matters as follows:
a. He mentioned the changes in Divisional structure. SE is
25X1A6A abolished, with its functions going to EE and NE. An Africa Division
formed to cover Africa, -
b. The DD/P described a new division to be called "Development
Projects Division." A self-contained unit with components as to
material, logistics, finance, etc.
c. He also said that PPC is now a part of Operational Services
and has been since last July.
TAB A
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3. Mr. Bissell stated that we in DD/P are in the middle of an Agency-
wide efficiency drive. This started with personnel and space requirements
for the new building. Functions and internal relationships are also under
study with the aim of more efficient operation.
4. The DD/P is anxious to make Cold War -Plans more meaningful
and to streamline project review .procedures with more delegation of
authority downward.
5. Mr. Bissell closed by saying that he hoped the Planners would
bear these comments in mind.
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13 April 1959
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
1. On 26 March 1959, General Cabell, DDCI, closed the War Planners
Conference with comments substantially as follows:
a. He mentioned the high quality of this War Planners Conference
and that it provided an excellent opportunity for the exchange of ideas
between War Planners and other DD/P personnel.
b. The DDCI described the importance of the trend toward more
Area Division participation in war planning. He also noted the continuing
need for the-r-6vision of plans, contingency war planning as a paper exercise. y planning, and the avoidance
c. General Cabell discussed the continuing need for greater
efficiency in war planning and the proper use of our available resources.
2. General Cabell closed his remarks by answering questions as
follows:
Question: Do you believe that all CIA elements in wartime should
be under the operational control of the Theater Commander?
Answer: It is hard for me to visualize the situation from which we
would never want to have certain CIA resources available for that part of
the role of CIA in wartime which is not of concern to the Theater Commanders.
It would be impossible to establish in advance the percentage of such a
division of our resources, Such decisions will have to be made upon the
outbreak of war. Under the Command Relationships Agreement, any hold-
out of resources is an exception; therefore, the burden justifying such an
exception lies with the Agency. The decision will depend on the time,
place, and circumstances.
Question: What plans do you think we should make for the reorganization
of CIA Headquarters in time of war?
Answer: Personally, I think that in time of emergency we will not want
to spend the time of our people in thinking about reorganization. The organ-
ization we have now is sufficient to carry on in the emergency. Only if we
get a quiet spell should we think about reorganization.
TAB B
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Question: Where does CIA stand now in regard to Intelligence Community
relationships ?
Answer: Good relationships in the Community are on an upward curve.
The new NSCID's were disseminated and they are now in effect. Even though
there are still a few places where they have not been filled out by the
Community, I believe the relationships are good. I do not believe that CIA
has such a unique position in the Intelligence Community as to be aligned
against the other members of the Community. The disputes we have at the
Intelligence Board are very infrequent. Right now, we have a difference of
view about guided missiles. As yet, we have not had to go to the NSC to
resolve special issues and I do not think we will have to in the future.
Question: Do you envisage CIA as a component force in a theater
situation ?
Answer: The arrangement whereby CIA is considered a component
force a- rIeady exists. We in CIA intend to live up to this agreement.
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