MATERIAL FOR PSB LUNCHEON RE BRAINWASHING

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-01065A000600100001-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
November 11, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 14, 1999
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 5, 1953
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80-01065A000600100001-0.pdf194.95 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release 1999/0992?: P80-01065A000600100001-0 VY eearc . 5 March 1953 VEVGRAND1W FOR DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE SUBJECT Material for PSB Luncheon re Brainwashing 25X1A 1. Two meetings have been called by you on this subject, the first on Saturday morning, 28 February, and the second on Tuesday morning, 3 March. In addition to CIA, the meetings were attended by ? rep- resentatives of the FSB staff, Department of State, Department of Defense, the Army (Gen. McClure's office), and the Air Force (PN office). 2. The main purpose>lie two meetings was to explore avail- able facts and to obtain eactions to the possibility of forming a medical or scientific, or combined group, to examine the facts and issue a statement regarding the feasibility of brain- washing procedures. 3. At the 3 March meeting the movie, ,"Documentary Evidence of the International Scientific Commission for the Investigation of U.S. Bacteriolo ~~ rfare't, was shown almost in its entirety, but particular atte`o~Yas called to the confessions of the four U .'S'. Army fliers, In addi- ons of the two marine Corps fliers, These confessions were read over the Peiping radio and we had the transcripts at the meetings. Since the meetings, it has been established that the confessions were in fact read and were not as suggested, tape recordings of the voices of the two Marine officers. At the end of the second meeting the fol- 25X13'wing points were agreed upon: a. would immediately start to form a group of doctors, numbering 5 or 6 at the most, and consisting mainly of Americans but including other nationalities if desirable. Speed not only in forming the committee, but having it reach some useful conclusions, was recognized. Names suggested by Ttr. Bro ~rAe: FOIAb6 Approved For Release 1999/09/7RDP80-01065A000600100001-0 Approved For Release 1999/09h-RDP80-0106M000600100001-0 25X1A FOIAb6 25X1A 25X1A b. As soon as this group is formed all available facts will be presented to it including the film., evidence from the c. An interdepartmental workinw 14 was formed con- sisting of representatives of P`'B ( , Chairman, refense (William Godel State (Mr. Ritter in Mr. Phillips' office), and CIA . The primary concern of this group is to collect all available facts and to prepare it- self to service group when formed. d. State and Defense were to consider an appropriate statement for release in the near future and to make recom- mendations as to the appropriate parson, agency, or depart- ment to make the release. This statement is being cleared through my office Thursday morning and will be immediately transmitted to you in time for your luncheon. 14. Additional issues which you may wish to consider for discussion. a. the material which might be relevant to the work of committee may be elssified, and some of it may be highly sensitive. P-B may wish to determine who should decide whether or not such material should in fact be presented. h. As a report, you might wish to state that a quick search of (`IA shows little scientific evidence in support of brainwashing, but rather massive evidence in the form of case reports or circumstantial evidence leading to the con- clusion that it is not a difficult matter given the time to force almost anyone to make an inaccurate statement, provided that the time at which the statement is to be made can be controlled and the individual is not required to continue his willingness to lie for a long period. Approved For Release 1999/09/27 :1 406P80-01065A000600100001-0 Approved For Release 1999/09 MV- A-RDP80-0106 000600100001-0 25X1A 25X1A c. An important issue for FEB is presented by b above, namely, to what extent does it wish to consider through the committee the lengt1- of time for which brainwashing may be el ecti.ve. it would seem that the evidence on this point is inconclusive and might, therefore, require a long period of consideration before any answer could be attempted. V y suggestion would be to eliminate this point unless it can be determined within a reasonably short period of time, and adopt suggestion to continue the committee in being for cons. eration of this subject over an indefinite term. Chief political and psychological Warfare Approved For Release 1999/09/27 : di491180-01065A000600100001-0 VG AND RECORD SHEET INSTRUCTIONS: Officer designations should be used in the "TO" column. Under each comment a line should be drawn across sheet and each comment numbered to correspond with the number in the "TO" column. Each officer should initial (check mark insufficient) before further routing. This Routing and Record Sheet should be returned to Registry. FROM: NO. ("/Pp DATE ROOM DATE OFFICER'S COMMENTS To NO. RECD FWD'D INITIALS 2. ~+ 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 6. 8. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 1s. UOIZ -199970971.7 -. t.#!A-KUF-8j-u-luoo^uuuovvwu FEso . x'1_10 SECRET