WORLD RADIO REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT TRUMAN'S MESSAGE OF 17 MARCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04864A000100050003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 22, 1948
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION' IREPIMTMIE.
1-'4:42.4 a 7. Approved For ReleasedM04/14 ?
AL U
1NFORMA
COUNTRY Foreign Radio"'
SUBJECT World Radio Reactions to President
Truman's Message of 17 March
PLACE Monitored broadcasts available
ACQUIRED to Flint Washington, D. C.
DATE
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:6ty00100050Qp,
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173097
DATE DISTR. 22 March
NO. OF PAGES 3
NO. OF Emus.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
ACQUIRED 18 - 19 illarch 1948 REPORT NO.
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COLLECTOR'S PRELIMINARY GRADING OF CONTENT
CONFIRMED PROBABLY POSSIBLY PROBABLY CANNOT '
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THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OP THE ESPIONAGE ACT 60
U. S. C.. 31 AND 32 AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR THE REVELATION
OF ITS CONTENTS IN ANY MANNER TO AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS PRO-
HIBITED BY LAW. REPRODUCTION OF THIS FORM IS PROHIBITED. HOW-
EVER INFORMATION CONTAINED IN BODY OF THE FORM MAY DE UTILIZED
AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE RECEIVING AGENCY.
SOURCE Foreign Radio Brcadcasts
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION FOR THE RESEARCH
USE OF TRAINED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSTS
DIMEZZEM: The volume of world radio attention to Truman's massage is steadily in
Most reactions, however, still appear primarily in reports of press opiniou
or of statements by impartant 'spokesmen.' Moscow maintains its original reticence;
its satellites are not so cautious. Consistently hostile in what they say, however, n
uniform propaganda line has not yet been evidenced-.except far the implicit or explioie
charge of "warmongering.' Aa initially, most comment tends to &pate the Prosident'e
proposals with already-established American policy; Oslo's AFIONPOSTEITI for example, is
somewhat representative in saying that his 'speech was.., not to be misunderstood on a
single point. America is. ready to act... if necessary and to take such concrete step; ao
the situation nay demand at all times." Qualifications are becAllvdng to appear, howevar,
both with respect to Congressional action and to other 'shortcoeings.'
IIVE STADFORDGM....4.7.EUE.....a_YAGA.NpTE:SANIOINt These corollary themes are
highlighted in practically all of the favorable comment received.. Stockholm reports
'typical headlines' in the Swedish pressa "Western Pact Guarantees European Peace sr6
Security"; and "Russian Policy Sharply Attacked' Norwegian papers 'carrying such bd
headlines as 'Truman Saes Rale to Communism' clearZy reflects the general opinion,' sayo
AFP. Ieu0s LE POPULAIRE considers it a 'very serious warning to the USSRpn although na
a 'categorical 'halt Stalin'.statenent.' A British commentator says it is genera
?.
that the speech and the treaty of Brussels 'point to one grim conclusion,. that LIOSI ca'
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never is the time to say to laosia 'that fur and no further.'
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The .est has decided
to stand." And the Vatican's OSSEINAL.ad.' Lp considers it a "political ultiLatum."
Lore or less similar statements come from Canada, Latin America, Greece, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Japan, and China.
Qualifications to otherwise vigorous statements
of aiproval come primarily fror sources in Lritain and France. As relorted by the
for example, the 21..0 sees "the chief risk" in the "danger of what right happen if the
American Congre.,s and people do not do promptly what Lr. Truman has asked them to do."
Along a similar line, the Paris radio reports on analysis by the Director of PAnla P,,L6S:3
to the effect that "one shortcoming" is that "the Truman speech is without immediate
material efficacy for the European situation." And Llum's LL 1.0PanAInE considers that
'Truman's defense !easuros:.. are not adapted to dealing with the strategic weapons or
the USSa?..0 the popelar Lasses stirred up by the Communist Party and workers' unions
under Communi t centrol".to which the only defense is that mobilized by the citizens
themselves. There have also been occasional references to the subject of American military
guarantees to Europe--some reflecting disappointment because they were not explicitly
proposed, and others wondering whether, or hoping that, they will be forthcoming.
As to Truman's message and the possibility of war,- the concenous of non-Soviet and
non-satellite opinion is that the issue is now up to the Kremlin; suggestions and hopes
that the "hard-headed realists" will head the expressed determination to stop
-further Soviet and Communist expansion are frequent.
"i'au.1.0CU?II;G": The only Loscow commentary on Truman's message appears in a broad-
cast attacking the Lrussels treaty. Lemin, the commentator, denies "Truman's... claim
that the economic recovery of Europe is impossille without a military alliance. Actually,
however, economic cooperation under the airshall Plan is only an appendage to military
and political cooperation which is bark: arranged under the direction of the U.0.
militarists." TASJ also reports (to Europe) the American All-Slav Congress' message of
protest to the effect that Truman's recoimendations 'would contribute to-the
artificial
war hysteria"; and Soviet domestic audiences hear about the negative reactions of
"progressive Americans" to the President's message.
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Corment from radios in the .Joviet sphere .of lAzrope attapts to identify TrunLn's
speech with the charge, as claimed by the iiungarian radio, that "the fostering of war
psychosis is coific on at full blast in the west," American "militarization" ard
"warmongering" is contrasted to the Watts recertly reported dere_ilization. In Italy,
Togliatti is reported to have said that the sroech "confirms what we have been saying
for months?that the policy of the President... is one of active preparation for war."
Nenni is less 'violent and "expressed surprise at the deliberate attempt to present
6oviet policy and the movement of the proletariat as one and the same thing." .The
Prague radio is the only one to have ricked up Gromykoss assertion that the speech Las
designed for internal propaganda purposes. The satellite radios (and :,;oscow as wall)
show a much greater tendency to report the attack delivered by ;lazy 'allaase
Rtig
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