Appraisal of Foreign Economic Intelligence Requirements, Facilities and Arrangements Related to the National Security

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000100170015-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 29, 2000
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 2, 1950
• Content Type: MF

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ApplWed For Release 2001/OWaa WpZf;,00662R00OO100170015-0
W IF c. Ir~IA
EXECUTIVE OFFICE CF THE PRESIDENT
NATIONAL SECURITY RESOURCES BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
*NSC Declassification/Release Instructions on File*
February 2, 1950
MEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT: Appraisal of Foreign Economic Intelligence Requirements,
Facilities and Arrangements Related to the National
Security
As resources mobilization planning progresses, it is in-
creasingly evident to the participating agencies that the full
effectiveness of many segments of such planning depends upon the
ready availability of adequate, timely and correlated foreign eco-
nomic intelligence.
This has proved, for example, to be the case in such
fields as peacetime procurement and development for stockpiling;
wartime procurement and development; foreign manpower; war trade
agreements; export and import controls; economic assistance to
potential allies and friendly neutrals, and other foreign require-
ments; preclusive buying; proclaimed listing; the control of f ov.c ign
assets; economic capabilities and vulnerabilities of potential
alliea,neutral and enemy nations.
From the experience of the agencies associated in mobili-
zation planning in recent months, it is now feasible to determine
more clearly than previously the foreign economic intelligence re-
quirements for further planning. Many of the studies completed or
under way also provide a better means than previously available of
testing the adequacy of current intelligence efforts. In the light
of these developments, more effective evaluation of foreign eco-
nomic intelligence for mobilization planning can now be made.
Another field where foreign economic intelligence is vital
is that of the formulation of current policies and programs relating
to the national security. Members of the National Security Council
will readily appreciate the value of constantly seeking to improve
the foreign economic intelligence relating to proposals considered
by the Council.
Intelli_;ence activities with regard to mobilization plan-
ning and to current security policies and programs are intricately
interrelated and at many points indistinguishable. Therefore, much
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can be said for covering both fields in a single undertaking,
Accordin;-;ly, the time seems opportune to reappraise our foreign
economic intelligence requirements, facilities and arrangements
as they relate to the national security, including mobilization
planning. Such an appraisal would require central direction with
appropriate interagency collaboration.
It-is, therefore, proposed that the National Security Council
direct the CIA, in collaboration with the Government agencies
concerned:
1. To organize and conduct a study of
a. foreign economic intelligence requirements relating to
the national security, including requirement-a for mobiliza-
tion planning;
b. facilities and arrangements currently employed for
meeting those requirements;
c. the adequacy of such facilities and arrangements; and
where appropriate, means for their improvement.
2. Based on the findings of this study, to prepare for Council
consideration and action a comprehensive plan for satisfying the
foreign econcmic intelligence requirements of the national security
and for a coordinated interagency effort to this end based on a
definite allocation of responsibilities among the agencies concerned.
The staff of the NSRB has much information which would be
of help in this undertaking, and will be available to assist in liaison
and consultant capacities.
/s/ JOHN R. STEELMQ1
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