Memorandum of Conversation

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00750A000100140233-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 2001
• Sequence Number: 233
• Publication Date: May 7, 1954
• Content Type: MEMO

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State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION: 1778 Pennsylvania Ave.
7 May 1954
10:00 to 11:00 a.m.
PARTICIPANTS: USIA Mr. George Todd, PAO
(Motion Picture), Bangkok
General
1. Mr. Moore has been stationed 3-1/2 years in Bangkok
for USIA. His first experience was in the radio media, from
which he shifted to his present capacity. He describes the
Embassy as a large post which has increased 501% in the last three
years. He has no Americans and 20 locals on his own staff. He
describes the local population as very close mouthed, particularly
the local officials, who feel that anything they may say may be
misunderstood by their superiors in the hierarchy of the Bangkok
government.
General Description of Motion Picture Activity
2. The motion picture activity is broken into two general
functions. The first is to handle the production described above
and the second is to supervise distribution. The policy governing
distribution is to concentrate on government officials to implement
a "G-111 program,which the Ambassador describes as getting
government officials off the dime and do something about the
Communist threat. Of decreasing target importance are:
a. Youth and students;
b. Skilled workers; and
c. Chinese businessmen.
Laborers and farmers are covered by public showings scheduled
for the mobile units. In addition to showing film to the organiza-
tions among the groups indicated above, some distribution is made
for commercial 35 mm. screens.
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Coordination
3. Mr. Moore states there is excellent coordination among
the government agencies and within USIA (field). He says he per-
sonally does not deal with other agencies but that his superior,
Mr.'eader, is in constant touch with the Ambassador and other
embassy personnel. USIA people in the embassy are pulled together
twice weekly for coordination of their program efforts and views
on policy.
Pa l .A-
4. The most important aspect of Mr. Moore's statements
with regard to policy direction was the emphasis which he placed
on the role of Ambassador Donovan. He says the Ambassador is
mentioned in connection with nearly every guidance type of statement
uttered and that the Ambassador frequently visits personally his
various activities, including Mr. Moore's activities. Previous to
the coming of Ambassador Donovan the policy was to "leave con-
troversial subjects alone, "' which caused the PAO program to rely
heavily on pushing Americana. During this phase, however,
preparations were made for a more active program and with the
coming of Ambassador Donovan the program has shifted to one of
action; for example, when the Communists were close to the Thai
border policy dictated that the subject be left alone, whereas now
the Dien Bien Phu fight?is being presented to the Thai as an immediate
threat to their security. Further, he states that Ambassador
Donovan backs up his various activities, including PAO, so that
in the case of motion pictures Mr..Moore now has excellent govern-
me t cdntacts. This permits him to design film for government
consumption, Previously he had to sit and wait for officials to
request "any old film" from his film exchange.
5. With regard to attribution the policy they follow requires
them to have as much propaganda published or shown with attribution
not to the U. S. but to the Thai,
6. They now de-emphasize the Americana approach except
where it ties in with Thai interests.
7. Another way of describing the Thai program is its
breakdown into "overt" and "covert" approach. The "overt"
includes the travelling shows and library program while the "covert"
includes the press and picture activity fed by the U. S. to Thai
officials and attributed to those officials.
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8. They have in Bangkok complete freedom to accept or
reject film forwarded by Washington. Their rejections, with
reasons therefor, or similarly their acceptance, serves as some
field guidance to Washington.
Material Used in Program
9. Most of the motion picture material is sent out from
Washington. This footage contains commercial and army material.
There is no classification problem but there is a copyright problem,
which arises when composites are made. At present the locus of
producing material is shifting from Washington and New York to the
field. With the policy of action described above, there is a need
for locally produced film which uses Thai background and people..
The content of the film is also shifting from documentary to
documentary plus drama, and in this connection they have hired an
American script writer who is now en route to Bangkok. The
substance of the film might be further described as
a. slanted toward the exposition of the "big lie,"
b. to build up Thai pride in its own history, and
c. to assist MSA (short films) in publicizing
dame projects, roadways, agricultural know-how, etc.
Evaluation
10. Mr. Moore feels the semi-annual report, as it is
presently used, includes good material on evaluation or effective-
ness of the program.. In addition to this, he reports weekly to the
PAO on his progress, including penetration of the Thai mind.
Intelligence
11. He reads State Department intelligence surveys of
Thailand and the Daily Summary of Thai press produced by the
embassy`s political section. I am impressed that their activity
needs little intelligence in the field , as the PAO turns to the policy
people for advice on the pitch of their programs--it therefore being
important that the policy people have the intelligence and not the
USIA group. He finds the Summary of Thai press useful as a
criticism of the "lay Carmody'" type.
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