RESUME OF OCB LUNCHEON MEETING, 23 APRIL 1958

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R002700050036-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: April 23, 1958
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Relek Q
23 April 1958
SUBJECT: Resume of OCB Luncheon Meeting, 23 April 1958
PRESENT: Mr. Allen, Mr. Cutler, Mr. Dulles, Adm. Foster,
Mr. Gray, Mr. Harr, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Scribner,
Mr. Sprague, Mr. Staats
1. Newspaper Publicity
A general discussion took place on the extent to which sensa-
tional newspaper publicity can make the conduct of foreign affairs
more difficult. Specific instances cited were: (a) reports concerning
SAC procedures, on which the recent Soviet complaints about
irresponsible flights with nuclear weapons were undoubtedly based,
(b) the great exaggeration and distortion by the Japanese press,
which resulted from American wire services' treatment of a fairly
innocuous statement contained in a speech by John Irwin, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defense, (c) publicity given. to a statement
by Secretary Seaton, proposing a U. S. copper tariff and the resulting
cancellation of the state visit to this country by Chilean President
Carlos Ibanez.
In this connection the Executive Officer distributed an extract
from the minutes of the Cabinet action of January 22, 1957. This
indicated that on that date the Cabinet had concurred in the proposal
of the Director of USIA that actions or statements intended to be
issued by various departments and agencies should. be carefully
coordinated with USIA if it appears they will have an impact abroad.
(The Record of Action carries a note added later, to the effect that
this procedure supplements existing OCB procedures, and is designed
to apply primarily to agencies which do not regularly participate in
the OCB.) Mr. Allen said that he was not fully familiar with the
NSC review(s) completed.
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background of this particular action, which occurred before he
joined USIA. He undertook, however, to look into the matter
thoroughly and report back to the Board as to what if any further
action should be taken.
2. Possible Visit of Soviet Air Marshal Vershinin
The Board discussed again the matter of an invitation to
Soviet Air Marshal Vershinin to visit the U. S. , returning General
Twining's visit to the Soviet Union. (This matter was first brought
up at the meeting of 27 March.) The possibility of having the visit
coincide with a military holiday, such as Armed Forces Day, was
again discussed. Mr. Dulles suggested - and the others agreed -
that it might be unwise to tie the visit in with such a military
demonstration, particularly in view of the recent Soviet complaints
about SAC flights; the consensus was that the return visit should be
treated in a routine manner. It was agreed that Defense should
study the matter further with a view to clarifying exactly what they
expect to gain from the visit.
4. Damman Pier
Mr. Dulles reported that a project which the U. S. has undertaken
in connection with construction of a pier in Damman, near Dhahran,
was not progressing according to schedule, and that apparently no
funds had yet been committed for this purpose. He said that the Saudi
Arabians are annoyed at the American failure to take the promised
action. Since no ICA member was present at the luncheon, Mr.
Murphy agreed to investigate this matter further.
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Mr. Harr questioned whether the U. 5. is giving adequate
assistance to Euratom, particularly in the crucial early period of
its existence. In response, Admiral Foster outlined various steps
that the AEC is taking in this connection. He pointed out that their
contemplated actions would involve Congressional legislation, the
appropriation of funds and negotiations of formal agreements with
other countries. He concluded that AEC is doing everything possible
and that this does not seem to be a field in which OCB could make
a substantial contribution.
Distribution:
Orig - DCI files
1 - DDCI
1 - BA/OCB
3
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