Evening star., 1946-06-16
New Central Intelligence
Badly in Need of Funds
1t. Gen. Vandenberg Praised for Results of First
Two Months, but Great Expansion of Organi.
zation Held Vital to u S. Security
By Constantine Browu


cent predecessors had done in the pre-
vious 20 years, has now become chief
of the newly created Central Intelli-
gence Group. This organization was
formed to correlate the reports and
agencies and to provide the American
Government with a most up-to- date
service dealing with foreign countries.
Gen. Eisenhower was reluctant to
part with Gen. Vandenberg, who proved
to be as brilliant an intelligence officer
as he was fighting man when he COM
manded the 9th Air Force in Europe.
He had to yield to the pressing request
of President Truman, who is whole
heartedly supporting the new organiza-
ton.
The Central Intelligence Group is,
however, like a new 1916 automobile
which lacks motor 1t is bound to re-
main stationary because it lacks the
necessary funds to operate. No appro-
priations have been provided in Con-
gress for this important adjunct of our
national defense. Since it's inception
in January it has done nothing but
get together some of the reports re-
ceived by the War, Navy and State
Departments and present them to the
President. On the whole these reports
contained little more than had been
published in the various American
newspapers, and the organization has
not come close to fulfilling the role for
which it was created.
Data on Others Vital.
In the new world in which we live
the security of Nation must rely more
than ever on the excellence of its intelli-
gence services. If the present threaten
ing storm can be weathered and the
nations settle down, for while at
least, information about what the
others are doing is far more important
than large standing military forces.
This is particularly true in highly
developed industrial countries. When
the japanese attacked us at Pearl Har-
Dor we were lamentably unprepared for
war. This was known in Tokyo and
Berlin. The military leaders under
estimated not only the American indus
make full Use of it.
With the advent of the highly tech
nical implements of war no one can tell
whether the foot soldier, the warships
or the airplanes will be the determining
factor in another war.
The atomic bomb and other new in
ventions may be only the precursors of
still other more deadly and devastating
engines of destruction. Unlike the
United States, all other world powers
are security minded.
Rumors of British Strength.
At present we have no information
whatsoever about anything that is going
on in the countries which have fought
the war on our side. For instance, there
have been rumors that the British have
prepared a defensive force in Germany
for any emergency which might occur
in the next few months Some observers
placed the number of German prisoners
being kept in military formation in the
British zone in the Reich at 100000 men.
Moscow made official charges to that
effect. London promptly denied the as
sertion. 1t is safe to say that the War
Department has no information about
this matter, except from what the Brit
ish and the Russians are saying Off
cially.
We know off-hand that the Russians
today have about 100000 men in
active military service. But we do not
know definitely where these men are
distributed and the extent of their
equipment. Some Red guard divisions
information was volunteered by the
Prague government, which said that U.s.
900 Soviet soldiers we're in transit to
Germany. Although it has been an
nounced that the movement across
Czechoslovakia has been completed we
do not actually know whether they went
across the borders or were placed to
garrison strategic positions in the Su-
detenland. The War Department has no
information and the British Intelligence
services evidently have not come across
with any advices, if they have been
able to get them.
Modern intelligence, particularly in
time of peace, requires other things
than actual military information This
is ''operationar' and will remain in the
hands of the War and Navy Depart
ments even if the Central Intelligence
succeeds IN becoming going concern.
Forewarning Now Vital.
In order to keep the government pre-
pared for any emergency, it is more
important today than ever before that
it be forewarned. This demands large
personnel trained in economic, scientific,
political. sociological and agricultural
matters. The men employed for this
purpose need not be professional intel
ligence agents. They can be business
men or educators who are professionally
engaged in foreign countries.
The British Intelligence, which is
about TOO years old, has used some of
the most important businessmen-pres
idents of large companies or banks-as
their best infurmers. In many instances
these men are not even aware that they
are doing intelligence work. AS good
citizens they keep their government in
formed of what is particularly inter-
esting in their field of activity From
their well-balanced and reliable reports
enough material can be sifted to be of
great Importance to either the political
or the military branch of the intelli-
gence services.
However, this kind of coverage today
is not sufficient. particularly for this
country. In many cases, our big business