PROVISION OF BASIC INTELLIGENCE (Classified)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00662R000200080079-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2000
• Sequence Number: 79
• Publication Date: March 12, 1948
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 20
CIA-RDP75-00662R000200080079-9
L i5ORANDTI TO: Deputy Director
FROM: Assistant Director, Reports and Estimates
SUBJECT: Provision of Basic Intelligence
REFERENCE: i%emorandum from Deputy Director, same subject,
dated 8 March 1948
25X1X7
1. The basic reference requires comments from this office
respecting the procedure for providing with basic intelligence.
The procedure recom!iended in memorandum of Assistant Director, R&E, of 25X1X7
4 arch was determined advisedly only after a thorough examination of the
matter and its iip1ieaLions. A review of the problem in the light of
basic reference leads to similar conclusions. The following commentary
treats in the first instance with the relationship of CIA - in term25X1X7
of chief liaison channels, and in the second instance with procedural
matters suggested in the basic reference.
2. dhile the mission of and its organization 25X1X7
do parallel generally our basic intelligence activities and certain
activities of the Office of Operations, there are marked differences in
the respective intelli-fence operations and procedures which have consid-
erable bearing on the desirability of establishing CIA as the chief M25X1X7
liaison with US i3ntelli^enee agencies. is a centralized organiza ion
25X1X7.->enerally servir.. all- basic inte Bence requirements. On the 25X1X7
other hand, CIA acts in a coordinating, editing, and disseminn_ting capacity
for the IAC Agencies where the finished basic intelligence is correlated
25X1X7aand produced. Thus =has -eneral control over its basic inte1li: epee
from collection through to the final production, :rhereas CIA must work in
cooperation with the IAC Agencies which have this control.
3. Another point which concerns the matter of CIA liaison
functions regarding basic intelligence is the established practice of
Departmental liaison with foreign governments. The Army, navy, and Air
Force now maintain direct liaison channels with corresponding - 25X1X7
25X1X7 ministries arid- In turn, have representa-
tives in our Dep artrnental reading pane s. o es a is another lin.ison 25X1X7
channel for basic intelligence in GIA would appear to duplicate already
existing channels an,' result only in furthering the well known -25X1X7
proclivity to use the :ultiple-cYannel ,iethod of approach with resulting;
confusion to our own intelligence agencies. Were the Departmental liaison
channels removed, CIA could act e-.s chief with US intelligence
agencies, although it is not apparent vrha advan age this would have ove25X1X7
the existing procedure inasmuch as Departmental liaison officers have a
familiarity yyith the nature.: of requests which insures precise accomplishment.
Approved For Release 200 CIA-RDP75-00662R000200080079-9
 - c OILY -
Approved Forelease 2000/08/03 : CIA-RDP75-00662R000200080079-9
SECRET 1%W
Moreover,
it
would be a r ather difficult matter to prevail upon the IAC
Agencies
to
relinquish their direct liaison channels. Finally, 'if in the
interests
going it
of
is
policy requirements transcending the validity of the fore-
the decision of the Director to establish CIA as the chief
25X1X7
with US intelligence a encies, it follows that should 25X1 X7
serve CIA in a similar capacity.
4. The following oomr.ents are confined solely to the merits
of the procedural matters suggested in the basic reference without re-
lation to the foregoing discussion. Thi.s office is in general agreement
with the suggested procedures as they relate to ORE. However, it is not
clear whether requests on other agencies are for finished basic intelli-
f-ence only or include relevant file data. In the latter event, it is
anticipated that the work involved by the agencies in correlating and
oroducin required reports might well be prohibitive. For example, the
25X1 C8c information r equestted by , in his letter of 10 February 1948,
would involve processing innunBrrx'ble documents, reports, and miscellaneous
data concerning cold weather construction experience. F, cursory examination
indicates that our entire l' orld ',1ar II Artie experience, such as the Alcan
Highway, and operations in Alaska, Greenland, Labrador, and Iceland, would
all be germane to this request. In con.sequence, this office believes that
25M= requests upon CIA (and the IAC Agencies) should be confined to
furnished basic intelligence, unless the data are readily available and
can be produced without serious delay to our own production.
That CIA serve M for finished basic 25X1X7
intelligence produced under the NIS or ancillary
programs.
b. That rely on their established 25X1X7
liaison channels with the IAC Agencies for other
intelligence requirements.
25X1X7 chief
that
liaison with US intelligence agencies,
25X1X7 (1) M serve in ,k similar capacity
for CIA and the IAO Agencies, and
(2) That procedures recommended in
brtsic reference be instituted with the
exception that the IAC Agencies supply
rrquested material directly to - rather 25X1X7
than passing it through OCD, and render
suitable compliance report to OCD.
25X1A9a
Distribution:
Dep Dir/CIA (2)
*pfdv; FdP keleasg 2000/0
nr~T,7o (1) File ~l)
1NSODOR BABBITT
Assistant Director
Reports and Estimates
RDP75-00662R000200080079-9