INFORMAL MINUTES OF MEETING OF ACTING DIRECTOR, INTERDEPARTMENTAL FOREIGN INFORMATION ORGANIZATION, AND CONSULTANTS, 2 OCTOBER 1950

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6
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RIPPUB
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S
Document Page Count: 
5
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 11, 2001
Sequence Number: 
31
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MIN
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Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-0 065A000500120031-6 INFORMAL MINUTES OF MEETING OF ACTING DIRECTOR, INTERDEPARTMENTAL FOREI(2 INFORMATICt ORGANIZATION, CONSULTANTS C MONDAY, OCTOBER',, IN OFFICE OF ACTING DIRECTOR PRESENT: Department of State h Mr. Sargeant, Acting Director Mr. Stone, Executive Secretary Mr. Phillips Mr. Hulten Mr. MacKnight Mr. Oechsner, Joint Chiefs of Staff - Admiral Stevens Department of the &my -General McClure Economic Cooperation Administration - Mr. Drummond Central Intelligence Agency 25X1A With respect to Item I on the agenda, lists of IFIS projects in work and proposed were distributed. Mro stone reported that IFIS, in recent meetings, had devoted considerable attention to the question of priorities. In his view, there were two principal categories where; 1. I-IN .1 S projects _ - time planning projects growing out of NSCa74; (2) current interdepart mental, planning projects centering on potentially dangerous situations such as astern Germany and. Viet Name Mr. Stone suggested that the matter of priorities be dealt with either at a special projects session of the board, or in a joint meet- ing of the board and IFIS0 Following discussion, it was agreed that would set a special meeting for projects at which Mr. Stone the board . should brief the board on current and pending IFIS projects, immediately after which the board would be joined by IFIS for a joint meeting. In connection with Item II on the agenda, Mr. Stone summarized 20 major types of overt projects in which private organizations and industry were cooperating.with the information program o Mr. Sargeant stated that the U.S. Advisory Commission on Information was setting up five panels for study and stimulation of various phases of the informa- tion program and that one of these panels, headed by Mr. Philip Reed, would deall with cooperation with private business organizations. Mr. Huiten announced that in addition to the New York and Wash- ington offices now assisting in the development of cooperation between up-offices-in Chicago, San Francisco, and Now Orleans for this purpose. Mr. Stone was requested to have copies for distribution to members of the board of a list of the types of projects to which he had referred in his statements SECRET State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6 Approved For Release 2003/06/1 2SiRDP80-01065A00050 120031-6 25X1A in reporting on projects developed in connection with his organization's foreign activities, said that he felt the need of a clearer definition between overt, gray, and covert ac- tivities. He suggested that this topic be placed on the agenda for a board meeting, and it was agreed that this should be arranged for a meeting to take place next Tuesday, October 10, to enable Mr. Drummond to be present. 25X1A The Acting Director, in welcoming Mr. Drummond to the meeting, requested him to report on his observations as Chief of ECA informa- tion activities in Europe. Mr. Drummond stated that he found opinion in Western Europe today in a malleable state. Reaction to the victory in Korea had been tremendous; feelings were further buoyed by U.S. support for a combination of forces with ,trope and support for the incorporation of Western Germany in the defense system. There was less interest is the Marshall Plan, per se, in the light of these other developments and this highlighted the need of a J.S. information program (EGA and State) strongly supporting U.S. objectives. The opportunities were favorable, and if we availed ourselves of them rightly, we might accomplish in the next two years what it might take us fifty years to accomplish otherwise. We should risk doing too much rather than too little. In connection with Item III on the agenda, status of state Department plan covering its psychological warfare responsibilities and tasks in the event of war, Mr. Phillips reported that he and Mr. Heath Bowman of PRS were working on an outline plan which they would have circulated in order to secure answers to certain questions which had arisen. They would also ask the geographic desks for comment in connection with sections relating to the approach to the Soviet Union itself. It was agreed that, following circulation and study of the outline plan, it would be placed on an early agenda for discussion by the board. Mr. Sargeant asked, in connection with the preparation of this plan, whether it was felt that the board should take cognizance of the Joint Chiefs of Staff p.w,, annex, of which Admiral Stevens had supplied copies to Mr. Barrett's office. Admiral Stevens replied that he felt that taking cognizance of the plan would be part of the board?s responsibility for seeing that a national p.w. plan was pro- duced. It was part of his responsibilities, he said, to see that war plans were coordinates with such a national plan. Mr. Sargeant reported on the status of the study of the use of seaborne transmitters as a possible adjunct of land-based trans- mitters in both peacetime and wartime. He outlined a number of Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6 _ Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CI - DP80-01065A000 O 120031-6 1, CRET 25X1A alternative proposals. Bar, Hulten explained that present thinking does not contemplate the use of seaborne transmitters as substitutes for land-based ones. General McClure expressed the hope that the possibility of the use of sea-borne transmitters independently of land-based. ones would continue to be considered. !Lr. Stone distributed copies of a draft telegram to CINCFE regarding; the collection of certain intelligence for propaganda purposes on the Communist occupation of South Korea during hos- tilities. It was agreed that a more detailed list of suggestions and questions as to the material wanted should be prepared by -r. Stone for possible transmission to CINCFE, - A 1' d:iiral Stevens brought up the matter of certain difficulties which had arisen in connection with comment by JSPD and the individual services on State Department information policy guidances containing controv=rsial issues., and pointed out that the mechanics were not at present satisfactory, There was brief discussion of whether the "clearanco" of guidances was tantamount to the securing of e"concurrences. Parr. Oechaner stated that the entire subject of guidance procedures was slated for thorough discussion by IFIS at its conference scheduled for Wednesday,, October 4 and it was agreed that a report on the results of this conference should be submitted to tho' board at its next regular meeting. Admiral Stevens reiterated his feeling of the need of a ,,,tattsment of the functions and authority of the strategy board,, 25X1A and his feeling that this should be in writing, agreed with this view. Mr. Sargeant stated that this was a matter which ho would have to refer to Mr. Barrett. 25X1 A I referred to a provision in the memorandum of deci- sions regarding balloons, reached at the boardgs meeting of Sep- -bember 1:3 $, to the effect that any further use of balloons was subject to the boards prior authorization. On the assumption that this constituted a ban on the covert use of balloons without specific authorization, he requested that a project propoa ganiza? Lion be placed on an early agenda of the board. reported that he had been informed that the staff of the U,N..Public Relations Scctiom included numerous Communist sympathizers,, and wondered whether =there was anything that the board could do to facilitate an investigation SECRi 25X1A Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6 Approved For Release 2003/06/12: CIA-RDP80-01065A00400120031-6 SECRET 25X1A investigation of their influenced further expressed the hope that something might be done to fur~er his early suggestion that "Anima. Farm" by George Or all, be produced as an animated cartoon for use in the information program, Aral r0 Oechsner asked whether, in view of the number of agenda items slated for early consideration, the board might wish to hold its regular Monday meeting next Reeks .in addition to the meeting scheduled for Tuesday. It was agreed to hold both a Monday and Tuesday meeting at 3:30 p.m. 1FIS;pvOechsner:er :L0/I/o Approved For Release 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6 ~rr;taF~ Approved For Rele se 2003/06/12 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000 02120031-6 ; T 5FC T?. k.~ l e~ s Y .LAX-ZM%TatU6~4 TO R5ts."p.~_sN S OF !e8`_', IIJFDR 1A.L, '4INUT S OF 'rte, `~ NG OF ACTING yt?i ? rr ' 9 Tn r~ z DIRECTOR-, F ZTv - INFOIVATION CICP~:UG:'~a`IION, tMD CON- SUI ANTS O J ?.g ?NDA ,, OC'u'u13 R 2, IN OF' ICi OF ACTING D.E,?& Ci'0R In aceo ?c1~..,c ~ ?,a thh c e cz.;;'lzon at IFIO meeti of i aonday, October 9, p? ease ' %. ram a: ~_ow5 i2 delei-Ions rom Your copy C) ' jhe minutes of Octo`bsr 2 PPage 3, ', rag.ra2h ..4 ]. use line -- delete, "inversely. "" I ! [nes 4, '), and. 6 -? delete, I!A(Liiral Stevens o o s e r suitable film.." FCOechsacro er 1C/11 /50 Approved For Release 2003/06/12: CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120031-6