I HAVE BEEN GIVING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO YOUR LETTER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00765A000100010103-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 6, 2009
• Sequence Number: 103
• Publication Date: April 4, 1950
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2009/07/06 : CIA-RDP80-00765A000100010103-9
THE BRITISHOBROADCASTING cRPORATION
Head Office : Broadcasting House, London, W.I
Caversham Park, Reading, Berks.
TELEPHONE : READING 72742
Reference:
07.:8S. MAF
Colonel L.R. Mite,
F.B.I.S.,
2430 B Street, NW,
~;ashington 25, D.C.
I have been giving careful consideration to your letter of
8th February and must apologise for the delay in sending you a reply.
I am interested to hear that you are still considering the
curtailment of your public distribution of monitoring re_orts in the
U.S.A.. On this side of the Atlantic we recognise that we face at least
some risk resulting from the public distribution of our documents, under
three headings -
a) Breach of Copyright. We recognise that an element of risk exists
but vie think it more likely that any organisation which sought to
make a clai.v.. against us on this score would first approach us to
obtain an annual subscription rather than risk offence by taking
precipitate legal action.
b) Defamation and Libel. Again we must ad it that an element of risk
exists to a degree probably greater than under a). We believe,
however, that the risk of heavy damages is to some extent minimised
by the notice which vie uisplay on our publications, as follows :-
"The bBC can accept no responsibility for the truth or accuracy
of the original broadcasts nor can it accept responsibility for
any claim for defamation or infringement of copyright arising
out of their pubiication.I"
At the sane time our editors are instructed to exercise al.i care in
these matters and to seek advice when in doubt.
c) Contempt of Court. the -Laws coverinc Contempt of Court are, I believe,
more strict in this country than in the Unit_d States, and it is
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I
necessary for us to exercise every care to avoid contempt by the
Publication of any comment or facts which mirht prejudice any ',erson
under trial. a good recant example of tills is the case of the
atomic scientist Pucks. in this case we s.ould have been guilty
of gross contempt if we had incorporated in any of our documents
the volume of radio co:wuent which was interceotc:d either from America
or other countries. Obviously, however, theme comments were of
vital interest to the British authorities, and to avoid Contempt
of Court we were obliged to provide for the se.;arate and confidential
distribution to interested Goverment departments only. This, of
course, made aooitional -rror-l for our staff.
You will realise therefore that the public distrioution of our
documents not only adas to our res,onsibilities out also to some extent to
our work. It is also clear that the actual financial return from this
;puoiic disseranation is not in proportion to the trouble involved.
, r
In :;pits of the aLote reservati;ns, i.oaever, we have now reached
a firm conclusion that the publication of our reports is in the qubiic
interest. In this view ,.e are strong_y sup;orted by the British Foreign
Office. There are a variety of conies which, to a greater or less aegree,
mould public opinion. Under this heaaincr we inclu e the Press, universities,
the Churches, ana vari,>us institutions undertaking research. It is felt
that our monitoren-: reports represent a major sou.,ce of inlor.aation not
oni.y of general events and affairs abroad, but in particular regaraing the
political aims of Soviet itussia and countries be inu the Iron Curtain.
rublic appreciation of these aims, it is felt, encourages not only understanding
of but sui;ort for British foreign policy.
row these reasons ,:ei for our Dart, wish to continue public
distribution of monitoring reports as before, and it would o,ovious_.y be most
convenient if the same ococesure could be follow: =d in moth countries.
1'e e. r,reciote, .or.ever, that the ie;al position in the U.S.A. is rather more
complicated than here and would be ;;lad to be inept informed of your discussions,
particularly if' teere is any cuestion of limiting the distribution of the
monitored material ;-,,Lich w:e obtain from you under our broad reciprocal
agreement. Perha_,s we can discuss t.-is further when I am in Vashington.
i dpi
Approved For Release 2009/07/06 : CIA-RDP80-00765A000100010103-9