UNIFICATION OF THE ARMED SERVICES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1947
UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, Washington, D. C.
The committee met at 10:30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment, in room 212, Senate Office Building, Senator Chan Gurney (chairman) presiding.
Present: Senators Gurney (chairman), Wilson, and Saltonstall. Also present: Senator McCarthy.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. Yesterday in .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 VANDENBERG. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, 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 United States for the first time in its history, with a Central Intelligence Service created by act of Congress. Our present organization, the Central Intelligence Groupwhich 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 Group was established, the Director of Central Intelligence-my predecessor, Admiral Souers and I have looked forward to the time when we could come before the Congress and request permanent status through legislative
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 can construct the finest intelligence service in the world.
In my opinion, a strong intelligence system is equally if not more essential in peace than in war. Upon us has fallen leadership in world affairs. The oceans have shrunk until today both Europe and Asia border the United States almost as do Canada and Mexico. The interests, intentions, and capabilities of the various nations on these land masses must be fully known to our national policy makers. We must have this intelligence if we are to be forewarned against possible acts of aggression, and if we are to be armed against disaster in an era of atomic warfare.