FUNCTIONS OF THE 'GLOBAL SURVEY GROUP.'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00022R000200040054-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 21, 2000
• Sequence Number: 54
• Publication Date: July 17, 1947
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2000/09/14: CIA-RDP84-00022R000200040054-0
Transcribed by EH for ABD
October 1, 1953
17 July 1917
MEMORANDUM FOR THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, R & E
SUBJECT: Functions of the "Global Survey Group."
Reference: Memorandum for the Director, "Organization of the
Office of Reports and Estimates," 3 July 19117.
1, The Reference defines the functions of the proposed "Global
Survey Group" in general terms, as follows:
Constantly studies all pertinent intelligence for the
express purpose of promptly detecting and bringing into
focus world developments affecting the national security
with special emphasis upon the strategic implications of
multinational situations. Produces the World Situation
Estimate.
2. The essence of this concept is that the Group should be`
composed of a few carefully selected men of broad intelligence
experience (rather than particular specialization) and of proved
insight, who, being relieved of routine operational responsibilities,
have the freedom (inevitably denied to all chiefs of operational
units) to ponder the broader aspects and less obvious implications
of the developing international situation, to consult the most
expert opinion with respect to trends thus perceived, to effect
the ultimate correlation and synthesis, and to give appropriate
guidance to the staffs and branches concerned.
Taken from "Souvenirs of G/GS"
3. This concept is not new, but previous attempts to imple..
ment it have fallen short of the mark .? e.g., the "Twelve Apostles"
in G-2 and, later, the "Specialists." The first of these experi-
ments failed because the "Apostles" were too far removed from the
everyday work of M.I.S. and became eventually no more than odd-job
handymen for the A.C. of S., G-2. The second failed because the
"Specialists," individually, were too narrowly specialized and
temperamentally unable to keep free of the day to day business of
M.I.S. Manifestly, very nice discrimination and judgment is re-
quired to maintain desirable detachment midway between the self.
defeating extremes of involvement and isolation. The relationships
which should exist between the G.S.G. and the operating staffs and
branches of O.R.E. therefore require thoughtful consideration,
although they should not be too rigidly prescribed in advance.
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4. As a corollary of its broad surveillance of the developing
situation, which will be accomplished in large part through thought-
ful scrutiny of the intelligence produced by C.I.G. and the Depart-
mental agencies, the G.S.G. should not only advise the staffs and
branches of O.R.F. regarding the broader implications of regional
and functional developments, but should also guide the intelligence
production program, indicating requirements for Daily and Weekly
coverage, for estimates in the O.R.E. series, etc. Moreover, the
G.S.G. will have occasion to initiate O.R.E. (and perhaps Depart-
mental) intelligence studies preliminary to its preparation of the
World Situation Report, This function resembles the overall co-?
ordination and supervision formerly vested in the Intelligence Staff,
but must be distinguished from the executive responsibilities in-
herited from the I.S. by the three successor staffs, formerly I.S.
divisions. For many reasons it would seem desirable that this
function be accomplished, not by formal paperwork, but by informal
consultation and discussion with the staff and branch chiefs con-
cerned in each case.
5. The chiefs of the Current Intelligence and Estimates Staffs
will inevitably turn to the G.S.G. for guidance which they have
hitherto received from the Intelligence Staff. It is proper that
they should consult the G.S.G. regarding the broader aspects and
deeper implications of particular reports and estimates, and the
G.S.G. should be located near them in order to facilitate such con.
siltation. All concerned, however, must be on guard lest the G.S.G.
be diverted from its function much as Dr. VanSlyck was drawn into
the day to day operations of the Current Division, I.S.
6. The Chief and Deputy Chief of the Intelligence Staff have
customarily conducted the Tuesday afternoon oral presentation and
a preliminary Monday afternoon meeting in O.R.E. In the sense that
this is a routine process resulting in the presentation of current
intelligence, the function may be considered to devolve upon the
Current Intelligence Staff. In the sense that it is, at least
potentially, a means whereby the branch chiefs may be brought peri-
odically to consider the global significance of developments in their
respective jurisdictions, it is a proper function of the G.S.G. On
balance, I would recommend that the G.S.G. be charged with coordi-
nating and conducting the Tuesday presentation, for the express pur-
pose of developing the preliminary discussion as indicated above and
the presentation itself as a review of the global significance of
current events rather than a miscellany of local developments.
7. At least for the time being, the recruiting objective for
the G.S.G. should include no more than five P-8ts and a corresponding
clerical staff, The professional personnel should,include a chief
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(as primus inter pares, for administrative convenience) and four
associates, all chosen primarily for personal qualifications in-
dicated in paragraph 2, but with incidental regard'for a balanced-
representation of the interests of the I.A.B. agencies or of appro-
.priate disciplines (history, political science, economics, sociology).
Recruitment should be sure rather than hasty or expedient, preferably
by selection after probationary service elsewhere in O.R.E. As the
Group develops it should acquire a junior professional secretary to
function as did the Secretary, Joint Intelligence Staff, but such
assistance is not an immediate requirement. The maximum strength
presently foreseeable would thus be, in tabular form:
Chief
P-B 1
Associates
P..8 4
Secretary
P-3/P>1 1
Secretary to Chief
CAS'-.5 1
Clerk-Stenographers
CAF..3 4
It must be reiterated that this strength should be regarded as an
ultimate maximum, not likely to be attained in this fiscal year if
proper care is observed in recruitment,
cc: Chief, Planning Staff
Chief, Executive Staff
Dr. VanSlyck
Current Division
Projects Division
LUDWELL L. MONTAGUE
Chief, Intelligence Staff, ORE
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