Memorandum from Lieutenant General Hoyt Vandenberg to President Harry S. Truman

NLT (PSF - Intell.) 9 IND CECON CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE GROUP CONTROL NEW WAR DEPARTMENT BUILDING 21st and VIRGINIA AVENUE, N. W. WASHINGTON, D. C. WDL. OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR 25 FFB 1947 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Clandestine Operations The clandestine operations of the Central Intelligence Group are being carefully established in the most critical areas outside the United States and are proceeding satisfactorily. These operations are already pro-- ductive of results which are of considerable value to many governmental agencies. While neither the interests of national security nor the time at your disposal indicate the desirability of disclosing all the penetrations made to date, it is desirable that you be made aware of the nature and extent of such activities. The assassination of British Brigadier R. W. M. deWinten at Pola on the 10th of February 1947 has been widely noted in the public press. The following in that connection is given to illustrate a significant example of the undercover operations of the Central Intelligence Group: "Full details regarding the assassination of British Brigadier R. W. M. deWinten by Maria Pasquinelli at Pola on the 10th of February 1947 were furnished to British General Staff Intelligence in Italy on 24 October and 1 November 1946 by representatives of the Central Intelligence Group. An officer of AFHQ later acknowledged receiving this information. The following is an extract of the message furnished in October 1946: 'Maria Pasquinelli, age about 30, 1.75 meters tall, robust build, dark brown hair, very curly, pug nosed, dark eyes, is reported to be planning to take the life of the Allied CO of the Pola area as a protest against the change of Italian borders, as decided upon at the Paris conference. She is stated to have studied his daily movements and decided to shoot him as he made his morning inspection of troops in front of the barracks of the unit with the Black Cat insignia. She is expected to leave Milan to visit her brother in Venice after which she will proceed to Pola where she is stated to have de- posited some baggage. She is reported as being fanatic and determined. In November 1946 the following extract of a message was also furnished by CIG personnel: 'Pasquinelli left Milan on Saturday 27 October by train headed for Venice and then proceed to Trieste. At Trieste she is registered as a school teacher; it is suggested that then Rome editor at Odeglistudi Las received of that city be checked. She is the niece of the former Italian War Minister Soddu.' FOP CONTROL