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INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. C.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
0
Colonel J. I. Coffey
Offico of the Specialfor release
to the President for-
Operations Coordination The White House. C.
Dear Colonel Coffey:
This refers to your memoraoduzn requesting my views with respect to the scope and method of the Committee on Information Activities Abroad, and also to my conversation with Mr. Sprague and Mr. Nielsen on February 4th. memorandum suggesting what appears to me to be an appropriate order of procedure for the Committee which generally follows the main lines of the Jackson Committee's Report The Committee will undoubtedly wish to review the specific recommendations of the Jackson Reportiew to determining what has been done to carry them out as well as to assess the validity of its find Logs and conclusions in the light of present conditions. It also seems to me to be consistent with the President's purpose for the Committee to formulate proposals for changes in the scope and emphasis of the present program and recommendations for new activities calculated to implement United States policy objectives.
The Jackson Committee addressed itselfumber of organizational problems which have subsequently been resolved. It is for thisresume, that the matters dealt with inf the3 report have been excluded from the present review. Moreover, aa the Jackson Committee's concern with quasi-military operations such as coastal raiding
and guerrilla warfare was primarily for the purposejurisdictional responsibility for the conduct ofwe have not suggested that the scope of theinvestigation shouldeview of
activities at this time. We will, however, be glad to inform It Mr. Sprague generally of the status of operations of this natureif he desires.
I have also not suggested economic activitiesubject to be included within the scope of the Committee's deliberations.. programs in the field of foreign economic aid and assistance obviously include informational aspects and contribute over-all to the image and prestige of the United States abroad, the size and complexity of these programs would seem to extend thc scope of tbe presont review to unmanageable limits. Here again, however, Mr. Sprague will probably wish to make some independent investigation of the problem before deciding what to do.
As regards its method of approach, the Committee will obviously wish to consider the informational programs and related activities of agencies of the Government, as well as of unofficial organisations, in the way best calculated to assess their interrelationship and the over-all impact and effectiveness of these programshole.
We are reviewing the various programs for which this Agency is responsibleiew to identifying those which would be of interest to Mr. Sprague's Committee. uggest that we discuss the results of this review with Mr. Sprague or Mr. Nielsen in the near future.
In its consideration of the present world situation and the objactlves and capabilities of tho Soviet bloc, as well as of other comparable matters, the Committee will probably wish to draw
Di recto
upon oxiating intelligence estimateB and may wish to receive current inteUigence briefings. Ifhall be very glad to see that the Committee receives the appropriate estimates and such briefings and other general assistance as may be of value.
Attachment: As stated
MEMORANDUM
A.
n. c.
D. E,
r.
ORDER OF PROCEDURE FOR THE PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION ACTIVITIES ABROAD
Naturo of tbe Conflict Changes in the world situation3. image abroad
Principal factors contributing to these images
Interrelationships of policy, action and Information programs
Probable future developments Communist Drive for World Domination
Principal Soviet strengths and vulnerabilities
Main lineB of Soviet effort sd States Objectives
States Information Programs
against the Sino-Soviet system
World and "uncommitted" areas
objectives, tactics, priorityof effort
Summary of Other Friendly Information Programs
Communist Information Programs , A, Objectives
targets
(including the roles of the SovietChina, the Satellites, localfront organizations)
of effort
Effectiveness. (and Allied)and Communist Programs
"'U.S. information programs are understood to include activities -official and unofficial, overt andndertaken to influence foreign opinion (a) in favor. objectives or (b) against the objectives of those opposing. These include radio; TV; publications; news services; libraries abroad; foreign student, leader training; cultural activities; East-West exchanges and contacts; "politicalpoliticalupport of emigre groups and activities; influencing of opinion makers; influencing of organizations; and the like.
VUI. Conclusion!
In conducting this study, it is suggested that tbe Committee review the pertinent activities of the following:
Official Agencies
States Information Agency Department of State
International Education Exchange Service The Bureau of International Cultural Relations
(including the East-West Contacts Staff) International Cooperation Administration
(media and training programs) United Nations Affairs and Affiliated Organizations (including FAO, ILO, UNESCO) Central Intelligence Agency
Department of
ommerce, Agriculture,
Selected foundations, educational institutions, international organizations and media
Original document.
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