RADIO FREE EUROPE

Created: 11/22/1950

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

M

U&HORANDUU FOfti DEPOTS DIRECTOR OF CERT8ALFree Europe

too nesting of tbe directors of the nationala-Free Europe in Hew fork on Thursday evemlng, Movemberby the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence aadDirector for Polioy Coordination, the Committeeto reexamine ita radio aetiTitiea andtetement

of the alma and objectives of Radio Free Europe for study by the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. Two comprehensiveand other matariale have been reoeived in reaponse to this request,

followingummary of these reports,our own additional views and

an instrument of peycbolegloelFree Europe's purpose is to prevent, or at leastthe cultural, political and economic Integrationantelllte states with the Soviet Onion.

roup of cltlnena. Radio Freea channel over which imdividuale, bothexile end American cltisens, can speak to thethe Iron Curtein. Onhanpared by officialFree Europe supplements but takes cere not toor daplleete the Voice of Americe. Programs arein intimate oolloqulal languagear widersubjects than the Voioe aa an agency ofosition to use, and Radio Free Europe aan movearea ef gray or even black propaganda should thewarrant It*

o. To accomplish its purpose of bringing hope to our frlende and confusion to our enemies. Radio Free Europe has been developing programs aimed ett

Keeping

fob release

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Keeping alive the hope of liberation in the satellite states and tolling the various peoples that they are not forgotten by the free world;

Stimulating and increasing the difficulties of the satellite regimes ln their efforts to achieve full control of production and economic integration with the USSH;

Creating doubts and fears among the quislings of the satellites by character assassination and talk of ultimate retribution, and at the same timeistinction between Communist puppets and those who follow the party line in order to survive, thereby encouraging hieh level defections among the latter;

(a) Developing an atmosphere favorable to the growth of resistance movements, for ultimatein war, or,ropitious moment, in peace time.

d. Programs totalingours per day are currently going out in five languages to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and Rumania. These programs are devoted approximately one-third to news and two-thirds to so-called features, ranging from political satires to controlled speeches by exiles. esult of five months' experience, emphasis has shifted from the use of distinguished political and intellectual exiles, whose personal prejudices andabsence from their native lands render them of questionable current value, to timely news items and contaontary slanted to accomplish Radio Free Europe's

e. The production of five different language programs per day is tho task of the New York office. Whenever possible scripts are written by exiles and edited by the American staff. By this means, the programs are kept local in character and more in keeping with the taste of their audience. Of primary concern is the development and maintenance of an adequate flow of information from behind the Iron Curtain, since local news in the satellites is as interesting as world news. Because of the dangers cf being caught listening, all programs must have special appeal if they are to hold their audience.

f. With only

f, With only one low powered transmitter in use for less than five months, it is too early to Judge the effectiveness of the effort. There areCOO people living ln the target area, and the best information available indicates that they haveeoolving sets equiped to receive abort and/or medium wavo transmission. This ratio of approximatelyeople per sot varies widely between countries, there being five peopfe per set incocpared to over seventy people per set in Bulgaria and Rumania. However, in all theserape vine process plays an important role in the dissemination of information, particularly informationtartling nature, and although relatively fow persons may actuallyroadcast, the contents appear to spread with great rapidity. This seems toonsequence of tho almost total obstruction of the rcmnl flow of news from abroad. About the only measure of the results of Radio Free Europe's broadcasts to date is the relatively frequent public denunciation of them in the satellite areas. The state radio stations in both Hungary and Rumania havo Imitated certain of our programs in an effort to reply to the Information carried. Also, we understand that Radio Leipzig has announced that any West German who works for Radio Free Europe will be hanged after theof Gernany.

plans oall for an extension of facilitiesbroadcasting six hours per day per country andexpansion of research and writing personnelthe programs needed for this schedule. Inpresent delay of about thirty hours between the receipt

ew item, and the broadcasting thereof, will be materially reduced by the establishmentrograms office in Germany where much of tho work now done in Now lork can be carried on.

thew short wave transmitterinw medium wave transmitterMunich will be completed early next year. Twowave and four ctCAkw short wave transmitters are

on order for delivery in the first half Two of thewa will be placed in tho Frankfurt area, thereby giving complete coverage of the target area from Germany. The final location of the remaining units depends on various technical and political considerations, but the general plan is to setecond line facility In North Africa, Portugal or tbe Azores to provide both better coverage andeserve to rail back on in case for any reason we are forced out of the German locations.

i. Tho original

i. The original budget of Radio Free Europe for the fiscalias been tentatively amended under date of0 as follows:

Operating Cost Capital Cost

udget as approved

Requested Increase0

Revised Totals

(C)

approval of this amei time in order that the through. Of the

ready be still to bo' remitted.

budget is sought atmay befor Capitalleaving

indicated above at to the current fiscal year, as this

J. The annual oper will not, of course,

expenses are running

ate ofperome employees

added in acticipation of the enlarged

sum isull year's'operation of all tbe proposed new facilities, nhich even/if approved immediately, will not be in operation in their/entirety until late spring. At the present time, ope month, or an annual having already be operation.

Tlie equipment to be installed under this plan has been specified by ilhe Committee's advisor, Mr. Peter S. Q. Mero, an independent radio consultant, with the concurrence of A. D. Ring>and Company, who ere likewise consultants In this field. This has been supervised by Mr. Robert Lang, Director of Radio/Free Europe, To verify their conclusions, our special radio consultant. Commander Graveson, spent some time in Hew York last week reviewing these plans and specifications, and bis report is expected daily.

1. The present reguatione of tho National Production irlty requiring manufacturers to give precedence to Defense Orders may seriously interfere with the acquisition of the new iquipment and steps are being taken to expedite this procurement.

1.

Novnc

u. AihMUt

Assistant Director for Policy Coordination

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Original document.

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