FOREIGN RADIO REACTION TO THE STATE OF THE UNION MESSAGE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730134-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 134
• Publication Date: November 30, 1998
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730134-9
CLASSIFICATION RTICT~ FFSTBIPT
iiiELLbtAK ~ CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS
SUBJECT FOREIGN RADIO REACTION TO THE STATE OF THE
UNION MESSAGE
HOW
PUBLISHED Radio Broadcasts
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
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SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO. 00-F-1-1950
INTRODUCTION: The Soviet Satellite radios are no longer alone in their attacks on
the president's message. Radio Moscow, with several commentaries on the subject, bas
finally added its voice to the chorus of Communlo s iti.ism. Although somewhat more
outspoken against the message than the initial Satellite radio charges, these Soviet
.commentaries add little new content to the overall pattern of Moscow's output. Moscow
concentrates on two major propaganda lines: (1) the "obvious" advance of the American
economic crisis belies the President's "affected optimism" and his "ornate, untruthful
phrases" about the internal state of the Union; and (2) his message is a frank admission
that the United States' "aggressive, colonizing foreign policy" will be continued.
Moscow's propaganda, however, is not as unrestrained as has been the case on previous
occasions. Truman himself, for example, is nowhere called a "warmonger." And there
appears to be some concern with counteracting the President's "hypocritical support
of peace." Western radios continue to broadcast statements in praise of the message.
TRUMAN CONCEALS U.S. ECONOMIC CRISIS: Although Moscow exploits the President's "admission"
of an economic downturn during 194T, considerably more effort is devoted to "proving"
that he demagogically distorted obvious facts about the American scene. "Every word of
his'messege," toys a Soviet Rome Service commentary, "pursues but one elm--that of con-
coaling the true picture of America's internal life and the aggressive colonizing nature
of,U.S. foreign policy." In addition to familiar assertions that "everyone knows" about
the ruthless advance of the U.S. economic crisis during 1949, the'Soviet radio (as well
es`.the Satellites) repeatedly cites a figure of 14 million American unemployed, including
"part-time" unemployed, and talks about a 22 percent decline in industrial production
during the first 10 months of 1949. Other "facts" allegedly contradicting the Preei4ent'e
"i>hprobeble assertions" include allegations about a decline in the Ameriden standard of
living, price increases, wage reduction., and widespread inadequacies in lousing, educatiot4,
pl:
TEMTE
CLASSIFICATION R TPICM
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and health protection. Generalizing, one commentator reminds listeners that "the economic
,crisis
crisis inherent in the very capitalist system has more than once shattered the United
and Its signs and indications are again obvious today."
TRUMAfl REAFFIRMS AMERICA'S AGGRESSIVE FOREIGN POLICY: Although Moscow and the Satellites
devote more time to refatationa of the President's optimistic statements about the American
economy, they do not ignore his foreign policy statements. TPpieel of the Soviet line to
the charge that the foreign policy part of the message is a "frnn-k admission of the fact:
that the'U.S. intends to go on with Its policy of enslavement under the Marshall Plan
which constitutes a weapon in the preparations for another war and is called upon to wreak
the economy of Western European countries." Familiar "evidence" Is cited in support of
this charge: the allegedly hermfii1 impact of ERP on West European countries where the
living standard is declining end unemployment growing; the American creation of a world
system of bases; the allocation of three-fourths of the American budget for "the arms
race, preparations for a new war, and plans for world nomination."
The charge that the U.S is preparing for a new war, however, is not emphasized in Soviet
broadcasts. Nor does Moscow use its hitherto standard theme that the U.S. Is preparing
for a war against the USSR and (her Satellites. (This theme appears occasionally, however,
in Satellite radio brow casts.) The President's references to Conmiunism are virtually
Ignored. Only TASS, in a transmission to thy, local Soviet press, mentions it briefly
and charges that Truman portrayed in this lying light the 'danger' threatening the nations
endeevor.ing to liberate themselves from the Imperialist yoke." Mosco' also avoids cam,
pletely the President's statements about atomic energy. Only the Czechoslovak radio
refers to the catastrophic failure of U.S. atomic policy in the poet year." And the
Hungarian radio is the only one to note that the "President did not mention a single word
about the Soviet Union's possession of the atomic secret...."
TRUMAN'S "HYPOCRITICAL" DLPVOTI1t TO PEACE: The Soviet radio makes frequent charges that
the peaceful intentions" expressed by Truman are nothing more than a hypooritipal smoke-
screen to disguise the Americaniistriving for world domination. And TAEGLICHE RUNDSCEAU,
the Soviet Army organ In Berlin; Is quoted to the effect that "people o looked no
further might even think?that he Is listening to one of the progressive partisans of
p'aco"--a otatement ouggosting the roasop for Moscow's frequent attempato to deny the
peeeceful intentions expressed by the President.
WESTERN RADIOS: A French-controlled German broadcast hails the message as "something
akin to a greet ideological approach to world Issues"; and a Tel Aviv ooa?eentator says
that the Provident "proved once more that he was a awgrn friend of the working messes of
the United States."
Approved For Release 2008/03/03: CIA-RDP80-00809A000500730134-9