FREEDOM CRUSADE GAINS STATURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080080-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 80
• Publication Date: March 8, 1958
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080080-0
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SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1958
Freedom Crusade Gains Stature
Radio Free Europe, . harassed and
belabored by the Soviet Union since in-
ception of its crusade to carry the
word of hope for ultimate liberation
to the enslaved peoples of Eastern Eu-
rope, has survived and thrived on ad-
?rprsity.
It has never backed off from any
challenge by the Communists and the
dedicated effort in behalf of the op-
pressed has risen in tempo. The recent
domestic attack by a nationally syndi-
cated newspaper columnist and radio
commentator was vigorous but was
wisely accepted by Crusade for Free-
dom, parent of Radio Free Europe, as
a diversionary tactic. There followed
the deciSion not to engage in a running
debate with the commentator and writ-
er. The Crusade for Freedom has one
enemy?Communism?and all of its
energy is converged on this single
source.
Nonetheless, Crusade for Freedom
has investigated and analyzed all of
the charges contained in 23 newspaper
articles and a comparable number of
broadcasts. Now it calmly and efficient-
ly reports to the hundreds of thousands
of Americans who voluntarily support
the anti-Communism program.
It was charged that Radio Free Eu-
rope was not reaching people in satel-
lite countries because their sets were
not equipped to receive short-wave
broadcasts. Crusade for Freedom now
assures its friends and supporters that,
of 8,409,000 radio sets in Poland, Hun-
gary, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and
Bulgaria, the following percentages
show, those with short-wave bands:
Poland 82%, Hungary 90%, Czechoslo-
vakia 49%, Runiania 76% and Bul-
garia 35%.
"Radio Free Europe is playing the
propaganda line that the way to free-
dom is to adopt Tito Communism"
was a criticism that Crusade for Free-
dom says got its basis from a docu-
ment not issued nor countenanced by
the organization. National Commu-
nism and Socialism are not endorsed
by the Crusade.
Inconsistencies? irregularities and
extravagance were said to compound
Radio Free Europe's alleged ineptness
in warring on Communism. Ability and
character of some key personnel were
placed under a cloud. Crusade for Free-
dom was said to have refused an ac-
counting of its funds. All of these have
been gone into without substantiation.
Crusade for Freedom does not make
a public financial statement because it
does not want the Communists to have
the information, bit the books are
closely audited and its board of direc-
tors ? made up of 60 outstanding
Americans ? knows where every dol-
lar goes and notes with satisfaction
there is no dereliction in the public
trust.
Officials of the American Legion,
strong supporters of the Crusade,
made a minute study of the documents
compiled by the columnist-commenta-
tor and reported there was no sub-
stance to his charges. Most of the 76
social, fraternal, religious, veteran and
labor organizations supporting the
Crusade have replied to the critic by
reaffirming their complete faith in its
conduct and accomplishments.
A spokesman for the Crusade ob-
served that "he has to have issues with
which to keep some sort of hold on his ,
audience . . . he is not fair and would
rather have a windmill to joust with
than no opponent at all." It has ever
been thus with capricious individuals,
always will be, and the conclusion is
that the Crusade for Freedom stands
higher in the estimation of the people
as the result of its experience.
Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080080-0