LETTER TO CHESTER BOWLES FROM ALLEN W. DULLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 31, 2014
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: March 11, 1958
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7
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Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP8OR01731R000400470004-7
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved forRelease2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7
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SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WAS
March 5, 1958
Dear Allen:
Thank you for your note of February 13, 1958, enclosing
a letter from Chester Bowles, dated February 4, 1958, concerning
the desire of the Yale Russian Chorus to tour the Soviet Union
this summer.
I have had my staff investigate the possibilities of such
a tour being arranged through private channels, since the amount
of government funds available for such cultural activities is
extremely limited and what little is available for the coming
summer is already practically all committed. For the information
of Mr. Bowles and the Chorus, however, the way in which govern-
ment support is handled is as follows:
The President's Special International Program for Cultural
Presentations does, under certain circumstances, provide financial
assistance to American performing artists for foreign tours. It
is usual that such assistance does not completely underwrite all tour
costs but supplements private financial support and revenues from
commercial appearances abroad. Nominees for assistance are screened
for artistic quality by a panel of independent experts and the
Department acts only on the positive recommendations of the panel.
In making final selections the Department then considers such
questions as cost, time of availability, Foreign Service post reaction,
general appropriateness to program objectives and a number of other
pertinent factors.
The American National Theatre and Academy (ANTA), 1545 Broadwg7)
New York, has been appointed the Department's agent to handle certain
aspects of this program. Groups interested in participating in the
program should correspond directly with that organization.
The Honorable
Allen W. Dulles, Director,
Central Intelligence Agency.
The only
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7
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The only promising possibility remaining for this summer
would seem to be financial assistance from some foundation,
such as the Ford and Rockefeller Foundations which you mentioned
in your letter.
There is also the rather slight possibility that the group
could arrange with the Soviet authorities for a tour on a
commercial basis. Contact could be made with the Soviet Embassy
at Washington to initiate negotiations. It is our experience,
however, that the Soviet Government normally insists on reci-
procity in the cases of performing artists.
The Chorus could, of course, go to the Soviet Union as tourists
and try to arrange some concerts after its arrival. I am not at
all sure, however, that this approach would be productive.
I am sorry not to be able to give you more concrete suggestions.
As you know, the exchange program is still largely in the develop-
mental stage. We shall keep the Yale group in mind in case an
opportunity opens up in which their unusual talents can be employed.
Frederick T. Merrill, Director of the i'ast-West Contacts Staff,
is writing directly to the Chorus giving the gist of the information
contained in the present letter.
If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate
to call on me.
Sincerely yours,
William S. B. Lacy
narlaccifipn in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400470004-7