WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT) 29TH MEETING HELD 2:30 P.M. JUNE 14, 1957 CONFERENCE ROOM #148 E.O. B.

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030053-8
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
November 17, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 14, 2000
Sequence Number: 
53
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 18, 1957
Content Type: 
MIN
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030053-8.pdf112.55 KB
Body: 
Approved For Ruse 2000R/ CIA-RDP78-01000300030053-8 CONFIDENTIAL OPERATIONS COORDINATING BOARD Washington 25, D.C. June 18, 1957 MEMORANDUM OF MEETING: Working Group - Committee on Broadcasting and Television (COBAT) 29th meeting held 2:30 P.M. June 14, 1957 Conference Room #148 E.O.B. Working Group Members Present: 5f,(( USIA - Mr. Robert E. Button, Chairman State - Mr. William A. McFadden ICA - Mr. Gerald Winfield CIA - Representative present Defense - absent 0CB Staff - Mr. Leslie S. Brady Mrs. Marjorie Denny 1. COBAT met to analyze the Soviet challenge to the U.S. on a TV exchange. While this matter is already under consideration by the Special Committee on Soviet and Related Problems, COBATts terms of reference state it will "Develop proposals for inter-governmental and private cooperation in the development and exchange of program materials and other information in this general field." The Chairman therefore requested COBAT to endeavor to develop specific proposals which might be added to a future offer for TV exchange with the Russians. The State Department representative explained that the Special Committee on Soviet and Related Problems was now engaged in going over the seventeen point program put forward by the Western Foreign Ministers J at Geneva in October 1955. This committee will then follow-up for a joint US-UK-French approach to the Soviets. Meanwhile, among the suggestions which COBAT might develop for later consideration were the following: a. The Ted Granik program "Youth Wants to Know" might be produced with young Americans asking questions of some prominent Russian. It is understood that Mr. Granik has already approached the Russians with this proposal, which might be a good one in view of the fact that the youth of Russia are now asking some questions themselves. Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-0163 d & 0053-8 State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file Approved For Relgse 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01 &6R000300030053-8 b. The Vice President might do an interview with Russian I correspondents here in Washington. I c. Amerika Illustrated might be turned into a fifteen-minute TV program, put on in advance of its release each month. d. The U.S. Government might invite the Russians to inter- view a VOA official. e. A interview might be set up with a defector and a redefe f. The program "Face the Nation`s might be done with a half-dozen prominent business men answering questions put by the Russians. ctor. These and other suggestions will be written up by Mr. Buttons staff and circulated before the next meeting. The CIA representative suggested that these programming ideas might more properly be submitted by the chief of VOA rather than by COBAT. The CIA representative also emphasized the view that action on the TV exchange proposal belonged in the Special Committee on Soviet and Related Problems, and added that in view of the fact that the proposal was related to international broadcasting, it might also be of interest to the Committee on Radio Broadcasting Policyo 2, The ICA representative reported on the status of the communications projects for Libya, Vietnam, and Ethiopia. 4. The next meeting will be at the call of the Chairman. The agenda will include a report by Mr. Frederick Long on the recent meeting of the European Broadcasting Union held at Vienna 25X1C10b Leslie S. Brady Alternate Staff Representative 25X1C1Ob Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R00-8