MEETING WITH SENATOR KARL E. MUNDT (R., S.DAK) ON FREEDOM COMMISSION BILL--S. 1689

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64B00346R000500030055-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2001
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: June 5, 1959
• Content Type: MFR

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5 June 1959
;EMORAI3t3M FOR THE RECORD
030055-81 Executive Registry
SUBJECT: Meeting with Senator Karl E. Mundt (R., S. Aak. ) o
Freedom Commission Bill - S. 1+659
STATINTL
1. Following up on information receive fro
v, a zr -,- - i _ , _.
m
watte .douse, the ]?hector accompanied by
met with Senator Karl E. Mundt on 4 Junes .19397 or approximately one hour
to discuss S. 1689, the Mundt-Douglas version of the Freedom Commission
bills (H. R. 3880 et al).
cussed the problem at length and that neither area firml
tt
h
d
y a
ac
e
to any
particular method of accomplishing the objectives altho
h th
ug
ey are strongly
of the view that much more can and should be done in the field of alerting
people in the U. S. and particularly those going abroad whether Government,
commercial or even tourists. As examples he indicated that the General
Electric man in Buenos Aires could well receive a four to six weeks' course
at the Freedom Academy prior to returning to his post. He indicated that
agricultural attaches in addition to knowing agriculture should know what
the Communist menace truly is and how to cope with it rather than simply
doing a good job as an agricultural attache.
.a. Senator Mundt indicated that he thought the Freedom Cora mtssiou
which would be the supervisory body could well be made up of individuals
such as Allen W. Dulles, J. Edgar Hoover, George Allen and also
knowledgeable private citizens. Senator Mundt further stated that many
businessmen had asked him if there were places where knowledge about
the Communist danger could be imparted. Since the bill had been
introduced he has received many queries as to whether it will move
forward.
i
Z. Senator Mundt indicated that he and Representative Judd have
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4. Senator Muudt's concept seems to differ from the wo:
of his bill. He states he is not proposing to establish a university or
Yreesdom Academy but rather a seminar type activity
which would call an visiting lecturers and not draw full time professors
from other institutions of learning. He visualised that the length of the
course would be approximately six weeks and would be specifically
geared to the areas of the world to which the students might be going.
Another example of the Senator's concept differing from the wording of
the bill is his thought previously mentioned of having individuals such as
Allen W. Wiles, J. Edgar Hoover and George lien (as examples)
serving on the Commission. The bill specifically provides that no
member of the Commission shall engage in any business or employment
other than that of serving as a member of the Commission.
S. Senator Mundt stated he is not aiming this at the college level
individual but wants to aim at the man who has the job and will be abroad.
Senator Mundt emphasised that many Americans are extremely naive
about Communism and this institute should acquaint them with the true
facts about the Kremlin leaders as opposed to the fusee sounding tenets of
Communist philosophy. Senator Mundt also mentioned the Increasing
problem of demonstrating to the American people the true value of the
tremendous amounts of money being used for foreign aid and thought that
in time to come there could well be the possibility that dollars as an
instrument of fighting Communism could well be decreased d#a*tically
or cut off entirely. Senator Mundt stated that the Freedom Commission
could tend to fill the gap in the fight against Communism abroad if foreign
aid is drastically reduced. He believed the Freedom Academy could be
enteed as a positive type action which the American People Would
understand and would support expenditures of Government funds for such
see.
b. Senator Mundt stated that he was very desirous of having the
appear at hearings to be hold on the Senate bill by the Senate
ciary Committee. Mundt stated he hoped the Director could give
some encouraging words with specific suggestions and other comments.
Mundt did vacation that in initial consideration of the bill that there had
been a thought of putting the Freedom Commission as a part of CiA but
this had been discarded for obvious reasons.
During the course of the discussion the Director indicated the
large training effort of the Agency in this field and the fact that a large
part of the Agency** effort was in fact devoted to fighting the Communists
as opposed to the intelligence function. Senator Mundt seemed to
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appreciate this fact but thought that more could be done overtly. Senator
Mundt seemed most appreciative of the Director sitting down to discuss
the Matter and the meeting was most amicable. No commitments were
behalf of the Agency. Senator Mundt requested the r.ctor to
pose for a photograph with the Senator to indicate discussion of S. 1G89,
but the Director declined. In addition, Senator Mundt raised the question
of whether the Director would pose for a filmed interview which Senator
at would put an television in his home State. The Director indicated
e of the difficulties in this and the point was not pressed.
OIAB3B
FOIAB3B
cc: 3 - DCI
I-IG
1 - DD/ I
I - A/ DD/ P/ I'
Legislative Counsel
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