Evening star., 1946-07-09
u. 5. Aims at BUILDING
First-CIass Service on
Foreign Intelligence
(FrrSt OF q Series.
By Clarke Beech
Associated Press SroH Writer

The United States Government is
trying frankly to build up the best
foreign intelligence system it can
devise
Nobody doubts the need for it. The
only question is whether We are
going about it in the right way.
We managed TO recover from the
sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. but
our military leaders warn that we
can't afford the luxury of another
such surprise party They say if a
treacherOus enemy were to attack
again he probably would deliver an
annlhllating shower of atom bombs
Probably nothing but foreknoWl-
edge OF the danger could help us
avert disaster.
President Truman laid the corner
stone of the system by establishing
N January the National Intelligence
Authority. Its Job is to plan. de-
VelOp and coordinate all foreign in
telllgence activities. 1t is composed
OF the Secretaries of State, War and
Navy and the Presidents personal
representative. Admiral William D.
Leahy.
GIG Also Created by Truman.
AS a full-time administrative unit
under the MA, the President created
the Central Intelligence Group to
sort out and evaluate information
and distribute it to interested Gov
eFnment agencies.
The GIG as now constituted has
no part IN actually gathering the
foreign information. That has been
left 10 State Department repre-
sentatlveS abroad. to Army and Navy
intelligence officers and employees
and to any other agency which
might contribute pertinent facts.
The GIG has no funds or per
sonnel Of its own. Its staff and op-
Grating expenses are donated by the
State, War and Navy Departments.
The director Of central intelligence,
1t. Gen. Hoyt s. Vandenberg. has
no authOrlls To give orders to the
several intelligence units which pro-
vide him with his information. He
must work through the MA and
the various departmental officials.
Nothing III the present setup
compares with the British secret
service, which for about 100 wears
mas kept the English government
Informed of foreign governments
intentions and their ability to meet
these intentions. The British Sery-
ice is entirely separate from the
British Army and Navy. each of
which has its own intelligence Serv-
ice.
Still in Formatiye Stage.
The GIG. however. is still in its
formative stage and 4nder the Pres
ldentS directive the MA can au-
thOrize it TO perform any inteli-
gence task which it believes can be
! more efficiently accomplished CEN
/ traIly."
4 Up to now GIG hasn't had the
! funds personnel or opportunity TO
do much more than compile intel
Hgence reports into single report
which is submitted TO the White
House and to various high-ranking
officials,
In the opinion of many experts
the best hope for GIG 10 become a
really effective intelligence unit
lies in the Presidents proposal for
mIficati0n OF the armed forces.
This plan included placing the
central intelligence agency under
the secretary of national defense.
under whom the Army, Navy and
Air Forces would be directed.
The central agency would thus
have its own funds appropriated
by Congress, and its position and
authority would be clearly defined
1t seems unlikely the unifcation
bill will be passed this session OF
Congress.
Tomorrow; what Is nteljqence2 J