PROVISION FOR MONITORING OF PRESS AND PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS OF FOREIGN POWERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-01569R000100030041-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: April 26, 1946
• Content Type: MEMO

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26 1946
? COPY NO 33
a
CENTRAU'INTELLIGENCE GROUP'
PROVISION FO MONITORING OF PRESS AND
PROPANGANDA 0A1X)ASTS OF PoRittat POWERS
References: a. c.r.o. 1 '
C.I.G. Directive No. 2
Pi'randumby the VireCtor of Central Intelligence
suant to the ,provisions of C.I.G. Directive No.
hoc committee conducted a study of the function
propaganda broadcasts of foreign
4 submitted areport to the Director of Central
ence, with coptes to the Intelligence AdvisOry
ter consideration of this report and further study
by e %Aral Intelligence Group, the enclosed report to
th Onal Intelligency.Authority has been prepared as a
r':action on this matter.
is therefore recommended that the Intelligence
Board concur in the submittal,of the Enclosure for
.0.0n by' the National Intelligence Authority.
1
SIDNEY W. SOUERS,
Director.
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OONWENTIAL
'
?E.NCLOSURE
DRAFT
NATIONAL s.TINITELLIGENCE AUTHORITY
PROVISION FOR. MONITORING OF PRESS AND
PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS :OP FOREIGN POWERS
Report by the Director of Central Intelligence
- with the unanimous concurrence of the
Inte1l4ence Advisory Board
1. During the war, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) conducted a foreign broadcast intelligence service
(FBIS), which monitored press and propaganda broadcasts of
foreign powers. The FCC was in .process of liquidating
this agency when its functions were taken over by the War
Department on an interim basis on 30 December 1945. The.
W4, Department requested that the Director of Central
,
Intellt,gence assume responsibility for the proper disposition
of: the former FBIS function. An ad hoc committee was ap-
,
by C.I.G. action to make, this study. Their report
h be submitted to the Director of Central Intelligence
tpe.IntelligenCe Advisory Board.
ter consideration of au i evidence submitted in
the Director ofCentraldIntelligence concludes
v! the function of monitoring press and propaganda,
bi.44d0 s of foreign powers is necessary;
the present organization performing this function
U12r..trol of the War Department should be liquidated' and
supra d by a new organization better adapted to serve the
nds authorized intelligence agencies;.
the operation of the required monitoring system
can b. t efficiently performed by the War Department
under rectives as to collection and distribution to be
47:
issues y the Director of Central Intelligence.
_ 1
DiSouasTon upon which these conclusions are based is contained
in Enclosure
(Appendix "B" hereto).
- 2 -.Enclosure
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-
CONVIDENTIAL
The enclosed draft N.I,A. Diiective has been prepared
to iirovide the means.. for carrying out the recommendations .
bas 4 upon the above!: conclusions. It has been unanimously
cOnogrred in by the Director of Central Intelligence and
the Intelligence Advisory Board, which included the Director
of the Federal BureaU of Investigation as a member for
constderation of this matter.
4. It is recommended that the National Intelligence
Authorit? approve the draft directive in Enclosure
(Appendik "A" hereto).
IIA I?
- 3 - Enclosure
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CON DENTIAL
4
APPENDIX "A"
DRAFT
PROPOSED N.I.A. DIRECTIVE
PROVISION FOR MONITORING PRESS AND
PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS OF FOREIGN POWERS
Pursuant to paragraph 1 of the letter from the President,
dated 22 January 1946, which designated this Authority as
Izesrnsible for planning, developing, and coordinating the
federal foreign intelligence activities so as to assure the most
.iffisctive accomplishment of the intelligence mission related to
,
libenational security, the following policies and procedures
lting to the function of monitoring press and propaganda
11004tdcasts of foreign powers are announced:
!44 The function of monitoring press and propaganda broadcasts
oreign powers is an essential means of-collecting intelligence
*if rmation required by the intelligence agencies of the State.
Navy, and other governmental departments. It will be
?perated by the War Department so as to carry out collecting and
ributing missions assigned by the Director of Central Intelli-
The present organization carrying on this function under the
el and direction of the War Department will be liquidated.
rrently with the liquidation, a new foreign broadcast
'monitoring service will be organized and operated by the War
partment so as to serve, with a minimum of interruption, the
telligenee agencies subject to our coordination This service
111 be given a new name by the War Department.
3. The Director of Central Intelligence will be responsible for
0- assignment of appropriate collecting and distributing missions
o the War. Department official charged with the operation of this
4 4
- 4 - Appendix
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.' These missions will be such as to meet the needs of
telligence,agencies subject to our coordination.
The State and Navy Departments will give to the War
meAt such assistance and the use of such facilities
their respective capabilities, as may be necessary
propIrly to fulfill the mission herein
54'The War Department will take the
4ct164 to carry out the program heroin
-5-
assigned.
necessary budgetary
initiated
Appendix "A"
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9?01FIDENTIAL
APPENDIX "B"
DISCUSSION
1, The function of Monitbring press and propaganda broad-
Casts of foreign powera is an overt means of obtaining intent-
rice information of ude to the intelligence agencies of State,
T.and Navy Departments.
. This function was originally undertaken by FBIS under the
.2TOC early In 1941 as a result of recommendations made by
?the Defence communications Board.
3. The FBIS was organized functionally into: an office of
the Director which gave general supervision to the service;
a Monitoring Division responsible for preparing the monitoring
Schedule for all FBIS stations and of providing excerpts from
programs monitored near Washington; a Publications Division
responsible for preparing and issuing reports on incoming
broadcasts for rapid distribution to government agencies re-
questing them and for Maintaining a central background file;
An Administrative Services Division responsible for mimeograph-
.
4ng, collating, and distributing the processed reports; and a
field organization responsible for operating field stations
1,ocated at strategic points for interception of foreign broad-
caste not monitored in the Washington area. EI addition, the
field organization has maintained offices located at London/
and Cairo which have had access to similar material monitored
.;
.'liYthe British Broadcasting Corporation and the British
)4iiiistilr of Information respectively. Changes in these
*eugetents with the British may require a revision or expan-
41,Un:of U.S. coverage in Europe and the Middle East-).
*i
- g
Appendix "B"
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\.
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The War Department was informed in December 1945 that the
in process of liquidating the FBIS. The War Department
,t4110 expanded its monitoring. program to meet the need
ng from this liquidation. The War Department employed
r':111BIS personnel, effective 30 December 1945, and has
- quired by transfer all FBIS facilities, including
id by lease or contract. The War Department arranged
renegotiation of outstanding leases and contracts.
he function of monitoring foreign press and propaganda
?
ddasts should be Continued since it is of value to the
10.gence agenciesof the State, War, Navy, and other
ent departments. Based upon a survey, the Department
e appears to have the greatest use for the product of
nitoring. Thenecessary budget arrangements to main-
is function should be made for the Fiscal Year 1947.
Department is.. the only agency now prepared to under-
is budget problem and it has included the necessary funds
t*budget requirements.
it appears that the present organization carrying on the
g functions of the FBIS under War Department direction
1
141 be ltquidated for the following reasons:
it. Its reports are circulated too generally to organize,
tials and individuals, including foreign agencies. In
1
rOer that.proper::intelligence direction may be given to
4
' activities, its product should be restricted to
herized intelligence ageneles of the Federal government.
-1B. The personnel of the organization have not been
oreened for secuity. Adequate screening is essential,
ice disclosure of the direction given to the activities
,the organizatiOh would be detrimental to this Nation's
erests and seC ity.
- 7 - Appendix "
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CONF IAL
7.. c present organization should be supplanted by a new
Horgan tion capable of performing the monitoring function
'requi by authorized intelligence agencies of the Federal
ov t.
t
order to insure that the specific needs of all proper
-
recip ts are considered. This direction can be given by
.11e D ctor of Central Intelligence, advised by a committee
incluga Coordinator from the Central Intelligence Group
and cis from A-2 G-2, State, and ONI.
tral direction of the monitoring effort should be
9. dcr such central direction, any of the three departments
.conce d could operate the monitoring, editing. and distributing
of th ress and propaganda broadcasts of foreign powers.
However, certain preliminary steps would be required
bee State or Navy could undertake the operation, in-
cl ng:
(1) Provision for the necessary administration and
'Supply;
(2) Transfer-of the budget from War Department to
e department which would take over the operation;
(3) Arrangements for the necessary communication
MacilLties between the field and Washington;
(4) Screening of personnel for security purposes,
Itcluding any members of the present organization who
may be re-employed in the now organization.
Continued operatIon by the War Department would
re re only screening of the personnel.
10. eration by the Central Intelligence Group (as diotin-
guish 'from central direction of effort) would require that
the s steps outlined under 9 a, above, be taken, with
piarti r emphasis On arrangements for administration and
uppl
Appendix "B"
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???
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ragraph 3 c, of the President's letter of January 22
the Directorof Central Intelligence to perform,
benefit of intelligence agencies of the State, War
Departments, ,I,Isuch services of common concern as
oral Intelligence Authority determines can be more
tly accomplished centrally." It appears clear that
on of monitoring effort for the benefit of these in-
rice agencies can be accomplished more efficiently
lyar However, with regard to efficiency of actual
on; little evidence can be found to juatify a con-
that operatiohlpy the Central Intelligence GrouP.would
be 04 efficient than operation by one of the departments.
Irt.:*ny...,event, the evidence is mot strong enough to justify
the,ke ablishment of the required. overhead facilities in the
C rat Intelligence Group, duplicating those a1read3 existing
agencies. The following comments on relative efficiency
auto
Lack of organic communication facilities militates
t efficient and economical operation by the State
rtmc,nt.
b. Lack of direct staff control of monitoring facilities
OK militates against efficient operation by the Navy
Rartment.
Lcck of organic communication facilities and
-ostablisiled overhead facilities militates against efficient
economical operation by the Central Intelligence Group.
oroover, it appears that the C.I.G. is not legally
uthorized to assume the contractual obligations involved.
id. Considering that the War Department has none of the
4
*:s.specified Ws to c.above, it is believed that opera-
of the function by the War Department would be Some-
More efficient and economical than by any other agency.
9 - Appendix "
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