ABOLITION OF THE PLANNING COORDINATION GROUP

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6
Release Decision: 
RIFPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 23, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 30, 2013
Sequence Number: 
13
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 12, 1955
Content Type: 
MEMO
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6.pdf121.05 KB
Body: 
? Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/30: CIA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6 WIII 12 December 1955 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence SUBJECT: Abolition of the Planning Coordination Group There is attached a full memorandum discussiag the various drafts and positions which have been taken with regard to the termination of the PCO. The matter has new been boiled down to difference of view on one point. i.e.. what officials shall he charged with giving policy approval to major covert programs under MSC 5412/1 as it may be revised. Nets.* Rocket*Uses position has been that the giving of such approval and the arranging for support of CIA programs should be the function of the designated representatives of the Secretaries of State and Defense and himself. Mr. Hoover has bikes: the position that it should be merely the designated representatives of the Secretaries of State and Defense and that Mr. Rockefeller should not be included. The last Rockefeller proposal is that the procedure should be the same as existed prier to the creation of PCO. This means in substance that the whole OCS would be charged with responsibilities under 5412/1 including, of course. Mr. Rockefeller. The position which you have taken heretofore is that you did not wish to express any view as to whether Mr. Rockefeller should or should not be concerned with approval of major covert programs and would leers the solution of that matter to others. It is recommended, however, that you dissent from Mr. Rockefeller's last proposal, e.. to reinstate the whole OCB. There are present at the OCB lunches, which is presumably the time when OCIS would act on covert programs, a number of people who have so need-to.know. Furthermore, having these matters come up atthe OCB Washes puts them into the OCR mechanism so that Elmer Staats prepares special minutes which ere circulated to all OCIS members. This procedure is not necessary and might result in compromise of the secrecy of CIA operations. While it is true that there are cases in which it is desirable to advise ICA and sometimes USIA regarding covert operations, the overwhelming bulk of cases involves only State and Defense and it is easy enough to arrange to cut in ICA (which of course is a part le,sState) and USIA in (ate) 130CUMEKT PEDZSEDit ?) HIS'itt/CAT, DOCUONT 13eilf Destroy oniy it;.1 consent cvf' 411A T?T I af Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/30: 6IA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6 Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/30: CIA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6 thou few cases which they' need to know about. There is attached to this memorandum a paper dated October 10. 1955, which I drafted sad which disatsses the revision of the 5412 procedere, suggests specific ansesdnaents to 5412/1 and proposes operating procedures under sock an anteadment. You read this paper and told me on October 31 that you approved. it was drafted on the assumption that Nelson Rockefeller woeldbalactudad in the policy approval group. If it is decided that he will sot be included, the section is brackets is the draft amendment would be omitted. I believe that the amendment which we proposed sad the operating procedsras described in my memorandum weidd be satisfactory to both State and Defense. The only Less* to be resolved is whether or sot Mr. Rockefeller is included is the approval mechanism. U he is to he included, it is much better to have him specifically included together with the representative* of State and Defuse rather than to throw the whole matter back into the OCS mechanism. Attachments SA/DCl/ WOJackson/mb Distribution: Orig. & 1 - DCI 1 - DD/P 1 - SA/DCI 1 - RI 4,2 te) Wayne 0/. Jackson Special Assistant to the Director 5t-A, Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/09/30: CIA-RDP83-00036R001000030013-6