Statement on the Appointment of William J. Donovan as Coordinator of Information.

The President today, as Commander in Chief of the armed forces, appointed William J. Donovan Coordinator of Information.

In his capacity as Coordinator, Mr. Donovan will collect and assemble information and data bearing on national security from the various departments and agencies of the Government and will analyze and collate such materials for the use of the President and such other officials as the President may designate.

Mr. Donovan's task will be to coordinate and correlate defense information, but his work is not intended to supersede or to duplicate, or to involve any direction of or interference with, the activities of the General Staff, the regular intelligence services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, or of other existing departments and agencies.