THE WARTIME STATUS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND ITS FIELD AGENCIES.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000800150010-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: November 17, 1950
• Content Type: MF

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NOV 1950
ME'AORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
SUBJECT: The Wartime Status and. Responsibilities of the
Central Intelligence Agency and its Field Agencies.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff in a memorandum to the Secretary
of Defense dated 11 August 1950 on the above subject, recom-
mended that he present a proposed revision of NSCID 5 to the
National Security Council for its concurrence. (One Copy of
memorandum with enclosure attached.)
The action recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff was
held in abeyance for the reasons that the proposal had not
been coordinated with other interested departments or agencies
and also that matters pertinent to the Joint Chiefs' proposal
covered in NSC 50 were then under consideration. Furthermore
it was thought to be inadvisable to act on the proposals prior
to your assumption of office as Director Central Intelligence.
Recognizing the inter-relation of clandestine intelligence
and covert operations and the importance of coordinating all
such activities with the Department of Defense, including the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other interested departments and
agencies, it is recommended that you discuss these matters
with the appropriate departments and agencies and formulate recom-
mendations for consideration by the National Security Council.
Enclosures
JCS review(s) completed.
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DATE OF DOCUMENT: 17 Nov 5O
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Ari cat 1950
MEi=iO>;ANDUM FOR THE S C TARY OF DEFT' i3E;
Subject: The Wartime Status and Responsibilities
of the Central Intelligence Agency and
its Field Agencies.
1, DISC 50 states that "It may be determined that certain
functions and responsibilities (of CIA) should be under the
control of the military in time of war." The Joint Chiefs of
Staff have studied the functi_Ms and resnensibilities of the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and consider that, in time
of war or national emergency, the covert activities which the
CIA conducts in theaters of operation should be under the con-
trol of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and that thF ` plans for such
activities, both those prepared in time of peace and war,
should be coordinated with the joint Chiefs of =`}taff,
2. The Untional Security Council, in ?C 10/2 dated 18
1948, Included the recom:iendeytions of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff contained in their memorandum to you dated 17 June 1948,
which --orovidee authority for the wartime control by the Joint
Chiefs of staff over the covert operations which CIA may con-
duct in theaters o. oiler. ati fin. iS C 10/2 states that "In time
of war or national emergency, or when the President directs,
all plans for covert operations shall be cooed=noted with the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the execution of covert operations
in military theaters shall be under the control of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff." SC 10/2, hhowever, in definin_-, "covert
opeations" states that "Such operations shall not include
armed conflict by recognized military forces, espionage and
counterespionage, and cover and deception for mi:l i tary opera-
tions."
3. The Joint Chiefs of Staff in tzovembe3r? 1949 established,
under their control, an agency known as "The Joint Subsidiary
Plans Division which, in wartime, would become the
agency by means of which the Joint Chiefs of staff would pro-
vide continuous direction and guidance to the commanders under
their control and effect policy control and direction over those
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functions of CIA relating to covert operations in theaters of
military operations. Our memorandum or 3 November 1949, and
your nemorandum of 18 November 1949 refer to this matter. By
National Security Council Intelligence f.ireotive (WS--CID) No, 5,
dated 12 1 ecember 19471, the Central Intelligence Agency in
charged with conducting espionage and counterespionage opera-
tions abroad.
4. Coordination of planning for espionage and counter-
espionage operations with that for covert operations Is believed
necessary to meet wartime or national emergency requirements,, and
the Joint Chiefs of Staff believe that they should exercise
similar wartime- control of such espionage and counterespionage
activities of CIA, authorized by NSCID 5, as are conducted in
theaters of operation.
5. The Joint Chiefs of Staff therefore recommend that you
present the attached draft revision of N. CID 5 to the National
security Council with a view to obtuira.in