Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP90-00610R000100160003-7
Body:
Approved For Release 2003/04/23:CIA-RDP9.0-00.61OROO.01001.60003-7
UMFIOATION OF iLE ARMED SERVICES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1947
UNITED STATES SENATE,
Co>I]IITTEE ox A1n~,IEo SrI,vICE.
1Vash.inyto,,1). C.
The committee met at 10:50 a. m., pursuant to adjournment, in
room 212, Senate Office Building. Senator Chan Gurney (chairman)
presiding.
Present: Senators Gurney (chairman), Wilson, and Salt oust all.
Also present : Senator McCarthy.
The CH.aIIi3L N. The committee will come to order. Yesterday ill_
executive session, the committee heard testimony by Lt. Gen. Hoyt S.
Vandenberg, Chief of the Central Intelligence Agency; and at. this
point in the record, his testimony presented yesterday will be inserted.
STATEMENT OF LT. GEN. HOYT S. VANDENBERG, DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
General VT ANDEN BERG. Mr. Chairman and members of the commit-
tee, my appearance before your committee this morning is in Support
of section 202 of the proposed National Security Act of 1947. This
section of the bill would provide the t nitt..l States for the first time in
it: history, with a Central Intelligence Service cleated by act of Con-
gress. Our present organization, the Cents-el Intelligence Group--
which I have the privilege of directing-has been in existence since.
January 1946, by authority of an Executive directive of the President.
'Since the day that the Central Intelligence Grutlp was establi iwd,
the Director of Central Intelligence-my predecessor, Admiral
Sowers-and I have looked forward to the time when we could come
before the Congress and request permanent status through legislative
enactment. -.
I sincerely urge adoption of the intelligence provisions of this bill.
Section 202 will enable us to do our share in maintaining the national
security. It will form a firm basis on which we cap:: c~I~sh uct the finest
intelligence service in the world.
In my opinion, a strong intelligence system is cc rally if not more
essential in peace than in war. Upon us has falls.: t~ _E~i ?r~hip in world
aff airs. The oceans have shrunk until toda% Europe and Asia
border the United States almost as do Canada a : iris xico. The in-
terests, intentions, and capabilities of the vari. i:un, : on then land
masses must be fully known to our national I!Iaher~,. We must
have this intelligence if we are to be forewa eel against pi --lie acts
of aggression, and if we are to be armed ag gist disaster iii ,inn era of.
atomic warfare.
Approved For Release 2003/04/23 : CIA-RDP90-00610R000100160003-7
Approved For Release 2003/04/23 : CIA-RDP90-00610R000100160003-7
Approved For Release 2003/04/23 : CIA-RDP90-00610R000100160003-7