ANALYSIS OF COLUMN BY FORMER PRESIDENT HARRY S. TRUMANDATED 21 DECEMBER 1963
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP75-00149R000700550047-7
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
T
Document Page Count:
5
Document Creation Date:
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date:
December 10, 2004
Sequence Number:
47
Case Number:
Content Type:
MEMO
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CIA-RDP75-00149R000700550047-7.pdf | 198.02 KB |
Body:
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SUBJECT: Analysis of Column by Former President Harry S. Truman Dated 21 December 1963
1. Truman claims that CIA has been diverted from its original intended role as
an intelligence agency to "an operational and at times a policy-making arm of the
Government." He recommends that CIA be "restored to its original assignment as the
intelligence arm of the President and that its operational duties be terminated or
properly used elsewhere."
2.t He states that he organized CIA to provide the President with timely,
unbiased, all-source intelligence. This intelligence was to be supplied in its
"natural raw state," "unedited and uninterpreted." The appointment of outstanding
non-partisan intelligence chiefs was to provide the primary $m(', assurance that
the concept was executed.
3. CIA, says Truman, has now been diverted from this original IM*w and has
undertaken operation and at times ' J made policy. Although CIA was never intended
to be used for "peace-time cloak-and-dagger operations," it is now an embarassing
target of enem# propaganda. Because of "complications and smbarassment"in part
attributable to CIA operations, CIA's operational duties should be "terminated or
properly used elsewhere," thus removing a "shadow" from our historic position as a
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free and open society.
5. Truman is correct in stating that CIA does conduct operations,
although he is incorrect in stating that CIA "makes policy." He chooses to
ignore the fact that CIA continues its positive intelligence functions on a
vastly expanded scale. CIA's operational responsibilities in support of national
security policy are undertaken in addition to its intelligence functions.
6. CIA.first became engaged in "cloak-and-dagger operations," including both
espeiage and covert action, under the Truman administration. On 2 April 1916
the National Intelligence Authority (MIA) directed that the former OSS Strategic
Services Unit (SSU) be ii jced under the orders of the BNoW DCI. The SSU, then
in the War DVartmsnt, had been responsible for both espo ipage and counterespionage.
The DCI was to determine, in conjunction with the War Department, what personnel,
facilities,, equipment, and records were to be transferred to the Central Inntell%ence
Group (CIG). The personnel and material thus acquired by CIG pum passed to
CIA under the go provisions of the National Security Act of 1947. On 12 December
1947, the National Security Council (NSC) approved the Fifth Directive of thi3 NIA.,
lah
giving the DCI authority to conduct "all:. organized Federal espei>Aage and
counterespionage abroad.',
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7. The CIA. also acquired responsibility for covert action programs under
the Truman administration. This responsibility was given to CIA by the PresidW
and the NSC over alift the objection of the DCI, who had reservations about its
legality and feasibility. CIA's analysis of the intent of Congress in the Act of
1947 did not support a grant of authority, even under the provision that
CIA should undertake "such other functions and duties relating to intelligence
affecting the national security as the National Security Council may from time to
time direct."
8. The DCI was charged with planning and conducting lam black propaganda
abroad under PNSC 4-A of 17 December 1947. On 22 December 1947 the DCI directed
the Assistant Director in the Office of Special Operations(espc age and
counterespionage) to establish a "foreign information boomb branch," later known as the
Special Procedures Ck'oup (SPG). The SPG was authorized to use "all measures of
information and persuasion short of physical," including black publications and 25X1
radio, forgeries, and poison pen letters. The CIA was active during
earning a commendation for the DCI from President Truman in front
of the NSC. SPG was also active in planning other operations, including the balloon
program and what later became Radio Free Europe.
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7AP
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(osp)
9. On 18 Jkne 1948 NSC 10-2 created the Office of Special Projects from
11
the SPG, and added to the list of activities in NSC 4-A* The OSP was authorized
to conduct sabotage, antisabotage., demolitions, evacuations, aid to guerillas,
and support for anti-communist groups in addition to the be black
propaganda activities. 09P was not, however, to engage in armed conflict by
recognized forces, espionage and counterespionage, or cover and deception for
military operations.
10. On 1 Sept 1948, the OSP became the Office of Policy Coordination (OPC),
with responsibility for psychological warfare using
black press and radio; political warfare, including the exploitation of refugees
and defectors; economic warfare, incldding fiscal and monetary operations; and
"preventive direct action" such as guerilla support, sabotage, and support for
anti-communist groups.
11. Thus, it is clear that under the direct mrp6mmunix urging and guidance of
President Truman and the NSC, CIA was given responsbility for conducting
operations, starting with do black propaganda and then expanding to include
other types of covert action including sabotage, guerilla
warfare, and covert political action.
12. p`I "~ R ~t2aO 1 1 iACIf o~Dep7e ;q io 0 4 0sa5x .ou~ 7but Truman does
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"vri' kc
not, a a case that Ma CIA'a positive intelligence mission has been hampered.
In fact, he does not conclude that operations should not be conducted but merely
that they should either be terminated or transferred elsewhere. So long as
operations are conducted by the US--and perhaps even if they are not--some part of
the government (CIA, DQD, USIA, etc.) will be sub j' ct to propaganda attack.
In addition, clandestine intelligence collection activities will also be attacked
' as they are now.
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