COMBATTING COMMUNIST INFLUENCE AMONG STUDENTS AND INTELLECTUALS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000200080005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 4, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: July 27, 1953
• Content Type: MEMO

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July 27, 1953
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
MEAiORANDW TO: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
SUBJECT: Combatting Communist Influence Among
Students and Intellectuals
Attached herewith is a study (PSB D-33/3) developed with the
concurrence of an inter-departmental working group that was suggested
by the Planning Board memorandum, "Communist Influence among Students
and Intellectuals," dated June 26, 1953, referred to the Psychological
Strategy Board by Mr. Robert Cutler. (Annex "li")
If the Board members do not object, I would like to use this study
as the basis of my reply to Mr. Cutler. The study will also be sent
to the inter-departmental panel coordinating PSB D-33, "The U. SQ
Doctrinal Program, June 29, 1998j'lAor its immediate attention.
Acting Director
Enclosure:
DRAFT - Study, Combatting Influence
among Students and intellectuals, 455
PaB D-33/3, July 27, 1953, COPY No..w,
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July 27, 1953
MEi 0RNDUM
SUBJECT: Combatting Communist Influence among Students and Intellectuals
1. The increasing ttCommunist influence among students and intell-
ectuals," which was considered at the NSC Planning Board meeting of June
29, has been a concern of government officials for years. The PSB has now
approved the U. S. Doctrinal Program (PSB fl-33, June 29, 1953) which provides
an over-all attack on this basic problem. This Program will now be implement-
ed, and greater emphasis should be given to the more rapid development of
coordinated activity in this effort.
2. Communist influence among students and intellectuals outside of
the USSR has been developing for thirty-five years with little organized
counter-action. The Communists concentrated on this target group because
of its influence on policy and opinion formation in "the backward areas"
and because the intellectuals have a disproportionate influence over the
youth. The Communists have carried on their ideological campaign through
the extensive publication and distribution of a cheap permanent literature
which, with the appearance of objectivity and scholarship, supported major
Communist themes. Their native book programs were supplemented by scholarly
front organizations which provided continuing stimulus to these individuals,
National-Soviet Friendship Societies continually foster Soviet cultural
activities and exchanges. The Communists also employ an exchange of per-
sons program, particularly students, professors and artists, averaging
45,000 persons a year, to increase their influence among intellectuals and
students.
3. This Soviet effort to the intellectuals has not been completely
ignored by the U.S. Particularly in "the backward areas," American infor-
mation programs.have emphasized that students and intellectuals were a
major target. The American exchange of persons program has concentrated
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PSB D-33/3
July 27, 1953
on individuals who fit into the category of intellectuals. Likewise, public
affairs officers have attempted to concentrate on local intellectuals. 1SA
and TCA programs have assumed that their success will be proportionate to
the acceptance and support given by the local elite. Hence, these economic
programs provide for educational activities and production to influence stu-
dents and intellectuals. Similarly, CIA has developed significant non-
attributable operations which are aimed directly at this target. A special
report can be prepared on CIA's activities if the Board so desires.
4. A major weakness of the American approach to students and intell-
ectuals has been that, too frequently, our general information materials are
not directly attuned to the interests and desires of the intellectual audience.
Foreign intellectuals are not seriously influenced by radio programs and
not greatly interested in news bulletins or releases. This target is not
particularly impressed by notion pictures or by periodical literature which
is not specially prepared from the intellectual approach. The average peri-
odical literature is considered beneath this target's dign.tyr. Students
and intellectuals tend to rely on scholarly or highly intellectual materials,
particularly materials in books which they can criticize, analyze and use
to their own advantage. It is in this field of perrianent l .terature that
the 1imerican effort has not provided sufficient counter to the Soviet approach.
5. While the 1 MG Planning Board has considered a paper on Communist
influence among students and intellectuals in Iran, attention should be
called to the fact that this sane problem of Communist influence on the
students and intellectuals is characteristo of the entire Free Uorld. The
problem is particularly serious in the so-called "backward areas," especially
in India and the Niddle East, but intellectuals in France particularly and
Western Europe, the Far East and even in Latin America have been pressured
by Soviet ideological approaches. While special emphasis can be given to
the implementd~tionof U. S. Doctrinal Program in the Iiddle East, it must
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be realized that appeals to intellectuals cannot be delimited to certain areas.
Intellectuals must be appealed to as a distinct group. Area considerations
may enter into the adaptations of the general approach to special area prob-
lems, but care must be taken that intellectuals in one area do not get the
impression that they are a unique special target of American interests lest
the effort be characterized as a mere propaganda movement, However, if the
intellectuals of one area find that the materials made available to them are
also available to intellectuals in neighboring areas and throughout the in-
tellectual world, the movement becomes a. challenge to their intellectual
capacities, not as nationalists, but as intellectuals.
6. iJhile the approach to students and intellectuals must.be con-
sidered as a global problem, there are particular factors in Iran and the
11iddle East generally which require special attention. A good portion ctf
the success of the Communist influences among students in this area is not
truly an intellectual appeal, but an organizational development of students
by Communist front apparatus. Students, who have a traditional tendency
towards radicalism and opposition to authority, fall easy prey to Communist
student organization. Student organizations,, characteristic of the American
and European university tradition, have not been developed in the Muddle East.
Students who "want to be in the swing" must join a Communist-controlled
student group and thereby they can be manipulated for Communist purposes.
7. Another factor, most powerful in Iran but also endemic in the
"backward areas", requires particular attention in any effort directed at
students and intellectuals. This second factor is the extremely sensitive,
practically paranoiac, nationalism. The oil issue in Iran has tended to
make the Iranians not only anti-British but anti-American. Any intellectual
effort which might be identified as "selling the U. S.t'. or as a strictly
American propaganda effort would be doomed to stagnation and defeat because
of this nationalistic phobia. However, this nationalism can be manipulated,
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July 27, 1953
particularly among students and intellectuals, to the advantage of American
objectives and to the weakening of Communist influences. Just as the Con-
munista now operate, the U. S., can unofficially asr.ist indigenous authors
and publishers to produce and circulate critical analyses of Communist doc-
trine and the viewpoints of the Uest. Native authors and groups silently
friendly to America can challenge the intellectuals to employ their abili-
ties and intellectual powers to improve the status and condition of their
country. Too many local intellectuals have been sterile, and spend their
days complaining, without constructively contributing to their country's
development. Material could be produced ihich would pique their nation-
alism and also their intellectual capacity to develop intelligent and
rational solutions to their local problems. Their present nationalistic
phobias might thereby be turned away from anti-Americanism into efforts
to arrive at constructive solutions to their country's political, economic
and social problems,
8. There are many things iuhich the U. s. Government can initiate
to weaken C mnunist influence, as well as to strengthen traditional Western
influences among students and intellectuals The U. S. Doctrinal Program
provides for a more extensive and Intensive use of serious books and'of
highly intellectual periodical materials, as well as the fostering-of assoc-
iations and meetings among intellectuals. However, the U. 6. Government
is not the only contact for influencing students and intellectuals. In-
tellectuals are actually suspicious of governments in general and, as a
result of Communist influence, of the American Government in particular.
The same suspicions are not held against American private organizations,
particularly intellectual or research groups.. Hence, the U. b, Doctrinal
Program should, as a major aspect of its development, insure that non-
governmental organizations, scholarly, research, fraternal, etc., i.,hioh
might contribute to the influencing of students and intellectuals, are
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stimulated to contribute to this effort. The Ford Foundation is only one
of the numerous avenues of non-governmental enterprise '.lick should be ex-
plored. The American Library Association, the Near East Foundation, the
American Friends of the Middle East, the many hyphenated national societies,
as well as the numerous learned societies, should be encouraged to develop
and increase their contacts with, and their contributions to, students and
intellectuals. Foundations could endow professorial chairs in local uni-
versities. 6ocieties could adopt local libraries or make quarterly contri-
butions of new books to them. Learned societies could send c oraplimentary
copies of their annual reports to major college libraries. This entire
field of non-governmental organization participation in a national program
must be thoroughly, yet rapidly, explored in the process of coordinating
and implementing the U. S. Doctrinal Program.
9. The participation of non-government agencies may be one means
of contributing to the solution of a major problem closely connected with
Communist influence among students and intellectuals. In many areas of the
world, particularly in the Middle East, students and intellectuals are an
unhappy, frustrated group because their local economic and social system
does not provide sufficient opportunity for reasonably decent livelihood.
Unemployment or employment in activities considered unbefitting their lofty
level makes these individuals more ready victims of Communist tirades on
revolution to secure a better future. The U. S. Government cannot directly
do. much to modify the existent economic and social systems in an area. Non-
governrlental organizations, however, particularly local organizations with
international contacts, can properly foster moderate changes and support in-
dividuals favoring such orderly development.
10. Nhile much can be undertaken within a short time to combat Com-
munist influence among students and intellectuals, it should not be assumed
that such activity, even then most perfectly implemented, will have startling
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or immediate results. The specific target groups, because of economic and
professional grievances, have a generally hostile attitude towards American
and western attitudes and mores, which it will take the to modify. Intell-
ectual movements and ideas take tine to develop and even more time to become
effective. The U. a~. is entering into a field which has long been occupied
by intelligent and well trained Con munists. Nevertheless, this Communist
influence must be checked among students and intellectuals. The effort must
be started and it must be carried on with constancy, consistency and confi-
dence. We should not passively rely on the assumption that in the realm
of ideas and intellectual activities the American approach is superior to
the authoritarianism of Communism.
CO!,[CLTJalCNb OF WOR LING GROUP
1. That the U. S. Doctrinal Program (PSD D--33, June 29, 1953) be
iniplem_ ted b the artieipa.ting gayernt a envies as a matter of high
priority.
2. That the problems of production and effective distribution of
materials appealing to students and intellectuals be rapidly resolved
and effectively implemented.
3. That, while the approach to students and intellectuals must be
approached as a world problem, immediate iiaplementzi?.ttion of aspects of the
Doctrinal Program in the hiddle Eastern area should be emphasized.
4. That the pertinent agency-intensify its efforts to counter
soviet organizational influonces among students, initially, in the so-called
"backward areas" and foster the development of student groups with the
approach of the West. As experience is gained, this activity should be
fostered elsewhere.
5. That emphasis be given by the appropriate agency to fostering
non-attributable efforts among the local intellectuals to re-indoctrinate
themselves in their own traditions and to develop native and rational
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solutions to their own problems.
6. That in this program to reduce Communist influence among students
and intellectuals, private, foundations, learned and professional societies,
and other non-government groups be stimulated to contribute their specialized
efforts.,
7. That an effort be made, partially through #on-government American
organizations, to develop, with the assiste_.nce and approval of the local
governments concerned, an economic environment vInich pill provide greater
economic opportunity for the developing intellectuals of an area.
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COPY
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
June 29, 1953
Dear Georges
Attached is a rnerr:orandum entitled, "Communist
influence among students and intellectuals," dated June
26, 1953, which we considered at the Planning Board
Meeting today..
The suggestion was made that this mei, or~:.ndum
be referred to the Psychological Strategy Board to con-
sider whether some progran could be developed to meet
the problem raised in the memorandum.
In this connection, it was thought that the
Ford Foundation might be interested in lending support
to any such program.
Would you take this matter up with the Psycho-
logical Strategy Board, and advise the Planning Board at
some future time what has developed.
Sincerely yours,
/s/
ROBERT CUTLER
Special Assistant
to the President
25X1A
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Jul. 27, 1953
MY- EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PR STD`ENT
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTGN
June 26, 1953
F'iE2.IOPPU,JDUM FOR GENERAL CUTLER
SUBJECT: Communist Influence among Students and Intellectuals
1. In the course of his talk yesterday Ambassador Henderson
again mentioned the strong and ever increasing influence of the
Tudeh party among students and intellectuals in Iran; and also the
great difficulties he experienced in countering such influence.
2. This is a subject about which I have been worried for a
very long time. I believe that communist influence on these impor-
tant groua)s not only in Iran but in all the backward countries of
the world stems not only from a hopeless econorm:ic future but also
from the decay of traditional religious beliefs.
3. In view of the President's comments at yesterday's Council
meeting and the widespread expressions of concern about this problem
isn't it now time to bring together the responsible parties in an
effort to survey the problem, and try to find ways and means to
bring before these students and intellectuals the democratic pl-dl-
osophy? It seems to me that this represents an opportunity to use
the services not only of Government agencies but of many private
foundations, including the Ford Foundation.
4. Perhaps you would like to mention this to the President
and, if he agrees, ask the P.b.B. to be responsible for coordinating
a study of the problem. The P.S.B. membership includes, together
with 1r. Stassen, the Government agencies with responsibility in
this general area. I realize that it v ill be hard to frame a pro-
gram but we should not stand idly by while the communists take over
large numbers of the younger generation.
/s/
5. Everbtt Gleason
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