DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01370R000100070025-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2002
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: August 12, 1949
• Content Type: LETTER

ILLEGIB
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Deer Mr, Chairmant
This is in response to your letter requesting information relative
to the application of various recommendations and textual discussions
conoerning the Central Intelligence Agency contained in the reports of
the Commission an Organisation of the Executive Branch of the Government.
Beeause of the nature of the work of this Agency, I am sure you will
enderstand the difficulties in giving any detailed public report of this
nature while still maintaining essential security,. However, I believe
that I oan make certain general statements whiohmill be responsive.
The Central Intelligence Agency -ma established by the National
Security Act of 1947 (P.L. 263, 80th Cong.). This act placed the Agency
under
the direction of the National Security Council, and the Commission
has agreed that it is properly so placed. The Congress has now passed
the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (Public Law 100? 81st Cong.),
*Loh give the Agency the adminixtrative authorities it needs to carry out
the fUnotions assigned to it by the National Security Act of 1947. In
addition, this new act is most important to us in the development of the
career foreign intelligence service for the Government, which is so vital
to the Agency's successful performance of its assigned missions
Reoommendation NO. 40 of the Romer Commission Report on the National
Security Organisation is 'That vigorous steps be taken to improve the
Central Intelligence Agency and its work.' These steps, we feel, are being
taken, and will oontinue to be taken in the future. 14 this connection,
I invite your attention to paragraph 6 of the commute of the executive
secretary of the National Security Council, contained in his letter to
you dated June 22, 1949. Re *tutees
'Last year the Council employed a special group of consultants
from outside the Government to survey the Central Intelligence
Agency and. related intelligence problems and report its findings
to the Council.
'The Council has considered this survey, has taken sone indicated
steps for rovement, and presently has under advisenant
additional a Is to improve the Central Intelligence Agency and
notional organization for intelligence.'
One pertioular weakness which was underlined by the task force report
on the national Security organization (appendix G. pp. 20 and 77) mas in
the field of scientific and medical intelligence. This criticism, which
ens justified, was anticipated and met by creating a special office within
the Agency, under an assistant director, whose sole reap in
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the field of scientifIc and medical intelligence. As assistantdirector
we lers most fortunate to secure an outstanding scientist, with a long
and distinguished career, both in the field of applied science and
medical research. In addition. the Central Intelligence Agency Act of
1949 (Public Law 110, 81st Cong.,sec. 9) authorises the establishment
within the Agency of three P-9 positions for those scientific intelligence
functions aid oh require the services of specially trained scientific
personnel.
Further oriticien has been indicated of relationships among the various
intelligence agencies throughout the Government and in the production of
intelligence estimates You maybe assured that these problems are being
ocnsidered on a daily basis, with thought to their continual improvement.
In your letter you note that your o=mittee is partioularly interested
in commendations in the field of general and personnel management,
admdnistrative services, and budgeting and accounting.
Great etrides forward in the general field of administrative services
are antioipated with the passage recently of the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949. Male an exemption has been granted
this agency under section 502 (d) (17) of this act, Ile are complying with
its provisions wherever possible. As ye stated in discussions with a
member of your committee staff during consideration of this act, this
agency has some vny special problems in the field of procuremeat, which,
because of the nature of our work, require that special means of procurement
be taken. Normal procurement channels and methods cannot always be
followed for reasons of security. In addition, section 3 of the Central
Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 extends to us certain authorities contained
in the Armed Services Procurement Act of 1947.
We have given careful study to the Hoover Commission reports in the
of personnel and general management, and budget and accounting. We
a small management staff engaged in constant survey and review
activities. Their mission is the prevention of overlapping of
and the establishment of organisation structure and personnel
ions on the basis of maximum production with personnel.
1 that this has produced excellent result* so far. As I stated
e trying to build a career service in intelligence which shall
d to none. At the StMe time we are endeavoring to keep adninistrative
a minis= for administrative costs can be met at the expense of
1 activities after a certain minimum has been reached. 14 are
eased to find, however, that many of the Commission's recommendations
lreedy in practice here in administrative fields.
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above comments will be helpful to you, and if
her ve oan do to assist you please do not hesitate
R. R HITLENIETT,
Rear Aira1, United States V,
Director of Central Intelligenoe.
(Letter appeared in the August 12, 1949 issue of the Congressional Record.)
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