NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITY POLICY ON LIQUIDATION OF THE STRATEGIC SERVICES UNIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85S00362R000700010019-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2009
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: March 27, 1946
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/09/21 CIA-RDP85S00362R000700010019-3
Army Declass Instructions on File
(p. 5)
CONFIDENTIAL COPY NO, 5
N.I.A. 3
27 March 19+6
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AUTHORITY
POLICY ON LIQUIDATION OF THE STRATEGIC SERVICES UNIT
NSC review completed.
Report by the Director of Central Intelligence
with the unanimous concurrence of the
Intelligence Advisory Board
1. The Executive Order of 20 September 19145, referring to ,
functions of the Office of Strategic. Services which were trans-
ferred to the War Department,' stated: "The Secretary of War
shall, whenever he deems it compatible with the national inter-
est, discontinue and wind up all affairs relating thereto."
At a meeting of intelligence representatives held in the War
Department on 8 February, it was generally agreed that an
authoritative group should promptly make a study to determine
which functions and facilities of the Strategic Services Unit
(SSU) should be preserved for permanent peacetime purposes
after the liquidation of SSU. It was further agreed that prompt
decisions should be reached as to which preserved functions
should be operated by C..I.G.., and which by departments or
existing agencies.
2. The Central Intelligence Group is preparing a separate
action for the purpose of initiating a comprehensive survey
of existing facilities for the collection of foreign intelli-
gence information. However, that survey will necessarily be a
long-range matter, whereas the disposition of SSU raises urgent
questions which should be decided immediately. Therefore, an
interdepartmental committee was formed to survey the Strategic
Services Unit and make recommendations as to its immediate
disposition.
CONFIDENTIAL
N.T.A. 3 - 1
MORI/CDF
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85S00362R000700010019-3
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
CONFIDENTIAL
3. Based on the recommendations contained in the report of
this interdepartmental committee, the enclosed draft directives
were prepared as a means of implementing those recommendations.
4. The. enclosed directives have been unanimously agreed upon
by the Director of Central Intelligence and the Intelligence
Advisory Board, which included the Director of the Federal
Bureau of Investigation as a member for the consideration of
this matter.
5. It is therefore recommended that:
a. The National Intelligence Authority approve the draft
directive in Enclosure A; and
b. Concurrently, the Secretary of War approve and issue
the draft directive in Enclosure B.
6. Arrangements for a meeting of the National Intelligence
Authority, at which the above recommendations may be considered,
will be made by subsequent communication.
CONFIDENTIAL
N.I.A. 3 - 2
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
 ? Approved For Release 2009/09/21 : CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
CONFIDENTIAL
N , I ..A., DJ;RWTM 1;
POLICY ON LIQUIDATION Of M 5T R T IG SERVICES UNIT
References: A, The e0iztIVe Order of 20 September
19k5, 4u'Ojeat: "Termination of the
Office of "Strategic Services and
Disposition of Its Functions"
B. C,I,M. pirective No. 1
Pursuant to paragroph 1 of the letter from the President
dated 22 January 1946 which designated this Authority as res-
ponsible for planning, developing and coordinating the Federal
foreign intelligence adtivitios so as to assure the most
effective accomplishment of the intelligence mission related to
the national security, the following policies and procedures
relating to the liquidation of the Strategic Services Unit (SSU)
are announced
1. The national interest demands that the complete liqui-
dation of SSU shall not be accomplished until it is deter-
mined which of its functions and activities are required for
the permanent Federal foreign intelligence program, and
should therefore be transferred to the Central Intelligence
Group or other agencies in order that its useful assets may
not be lost, Such determination and transfers shall be
made and the liquidation of the remainder of SSU shall be
completed as promptly as possible and prior to 1 July 191+7.
The Director of Central Intelligence stall Issue the nece-
ssary directives to effect the liquidation, He will make
recommendations to this Authority as to the Intelligence
activities permanently required in the peace-time effort,
2, During the period of liquidation the SSU should be
administered and operated so as to service, to the extent
CONFIDENTIAL
N,I.A. 3 - 3 - Enclosure A
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
 I Approved For Release 2009/09/21 : CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
CONFIDENTIAL
practicable, the intelligence agencies subject to our
coordination. The Director of Central Intelligence shall
issue the -necessary directives to the Director of SSU re-
quired to accomplish this mission. In addition, the
Director of SSU will make available to the Director of
Central Intelligence, upon his request, any facilities and
services of SSU which may be useful in the performance of
an authorized function of the Central Intelligence Groun.
3. The Director of Central Intelligence will be respon-
sible for determining which funds, personnel and facilities
of SSU are required- for the performance of an authorized
function of the Central Intelligence Group. Such funds,
personnel and facilities of SSU will then be transferred to
an appropriate War Department unit. The Director of Central
Intelligence will be responsible for making the necessary
administrative arrangements and for issuing the necessary
directives to the Director of SSU.
4. The War Department will take the necessary budgetary
action to carry out this program.
CONFIDENTIAL
N.I.A. 3 - 4 - Enclosure A
Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
 Approved For Release 2009/09/21: CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3
Army Declass Instructions on File
CONFIDENTIAL
ENCLOSURE B r
D R A F T
PROPOSED DIRECTIVE FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR TO THE
DTiPECTO t''I" THE ST~RA1TEGTC; SERVICES UNIT
Effective i.~'rc:; late y, you s.re directed to continue the
liquidation of the Strategic Se-'..r -ce3 Unit (SSU) as ordered in
paragraph 3 of chi Executive Cyder dated 20 September 1045,
subject: "Termination of the office of Strategic Services and
Disposition of I?~s Functions". The liquidation will be com-
pleted not later than 30 June 1947.
The liquidation of SSU will be coordinated with the de-
velopment of the permanent peace-time intelligence program. You
will carry out the liquidation in accordance with instructions
of the Director of Central Intelligence or his designated
representative. The Director or. his representative will deal
directly with you. He will have such staff as he requires
working wl.th SSU.
Dur.'ing the period of liquidatyy on you will administer and
"' r-wJ,~'.'a ' '~Q-... t CIO
operate the SSU so as to service/the intelligdnce y.
nce agencies
subject to coordination by the National Intelligence Authority
in accordance with directives provided by the Director of Central
Intelligence or his designated representative,, In addition,
you will make available;/to the Director of Central Intelligence,
W F
'
-
x~ ~
-f: . a
upon his request, any facilities and services/of SSU whicmay
be useful in the performance of an authorized function of the
Central Intelligence Group.
Previous War Department instructions relating to this
problem are amended accordingly.
CONFIDENTIAL
N.I.A. 3 - 5 -- Enclosure B
Approved For Release 2009/09/21 : CIA-RDP85SO0362R000700010019-3