MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT); 13TH MEETING HELD 2 P.M. APRIL 23

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030019-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: April 25, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

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OPERATIQNS COORDINATING BOARD
!,lashington 25, A.C.
April 25, 1$56
MEMQRANDUM QF MEETING: Working Group -. Committee Qn Broadcasting and
Television (COBAT); 13th Meeting held 2 p.m. April 23
WORKING GRQUP 1"IENIBERS PRESENTS
USTA -Robert E. Sutton, Chairman
Frederick A. bong (alternate)
State - T. H, E. Nesbitt (TPIB Chairman)
CIA - Representative
OCB - Ralph Busick
Marjorie Denny
1. The minutes of the April 16th meet~.ng were adopted as written.
2. CQBATFs Report and Recommendations Concerning Television in Evsope,
which has been revised in accordance with the Board Assistants' suggestions
(3/30/56) was agreed to in final form for QCB distribution,
3. The Staff Representative distributed a draft paper (for the Board
Assistants) requesting approval of an on-the-spot survey of European TV.
Discussion was held as to possible officers available to conduct this survey;
the possibility of conducting the study through the OEEC; the advisability of
waiting until after the EBU meeting to be held in May. It was agreed the
approved project paper should be circulated to U.~S. missions in Europe for
their information and assistance in accomplishing the survey. The draft was
adopted by those present; copies were sent to the Defense and ICA representat~res;
and final glearance will be accomplished by telephone before distribution is
made to the $oard Assistants..
4? Action on the Libya project was deferred until the next meeting when
the ICA representative will be present.
5. The State Department representative informed the Committee that, accord-
ing to a recent despatch from Cairo, the Egyptian Broadcasting System had
advertised for Egyptians speaking Arabic, Urdu, Sws.hili, Amharic, Tigre and
Somali amonG other languages; this recruiting fox' East African language experts
was indicative of the direction broadcasting might be taking,. and should be
considered in U.S, planning.
6. A recent cable from Ankara (No. 1687, April 10) stressing support of
Moscow's ab~ectives provided by such indigenous radios as Cairo's Voice of the
Arabs, was next discussed, This message proposed utilisation of U.S. excess,
high-powered transmitters to combat anti-Western, antirBaghds.d Pact propaganda
directed toward Arab and African target areas. The Committee noted that if
the U.S. is to increase its present efforts to make maximum use of the broad-
casting faci~.it~.es of friendly Free World countries, then the furnishing of
technical facilities and adv~.ce to the Baghdad Pact nations is indicated at
this time. The particular need for a Radio Officer in Baghdad was noted.
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~. The Committee noted recent UNESCO operations in the TV field as
evidences of Soviet interest in using this medium as a tool of external policy:
with the assistance 4f UNESCO, Costa Rica will soon inaugurate a TV station;
and UNESCO is at present organizing an international TV film pool far contribu-
tion by all membexs of UNESCO. Discussion was held as to who should be the
U.S~ representatives at the Paris meting in June on this project.
8. The next meeting will be held Monday, April 30th, 2 F.M. at OCB.
/ ~
/ i~ c~~ ~ ~i . , .
Ra Rf Busick
Staff Representative
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