STATEMENT BY(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000700010008-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 30, 1959
• Content Type: PREL

RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA ? 30 ROCKEFELLER PLAZA ? NEW YORK 20, N.Y
for release: IMMEDIATELY June 30, 1959
STATEMENT BY BRIG. GENERAL,DAVID SARNOFF
Brig. General David Sarnoff, Chairman of the Board of
the Radio Corporation of America, made the following statement
today on his return from Europe aboard the S.S. Queen Mary:
"I have been abroad about one month and visited
England,, Germany and France.
"I attended as a U.S. delegate the Atlantic Congress,
sponsored by NATO and held in London, June 5 to 10. The delibera-
tions and work of this conference produced a 'Declaration of
Principles' which I hope will be implemented by the individual
nations comprising NATO.
"In the three major European countries I visited, there
was ample evidence of a rising economy and improving standards
of living. Business generally is good; workers are employed and
there is greater confidence in the stability of the currencies of
these countries. There is less restriction in the movement of
people and greater freedom in the movement of trade.
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"Given a reasonable measure of peace and political
stability, there is every reason to expect a continuation of these
improved conditions. People, everywhere, want the better things
of life and are willing to work to get them.
"In the political area, however, there is a feeling of
uncertainty, though not of urgency. There is a general belief
that the probabilities of a 'Hot War' diminish as the meaning of
a nuclear and missile war becomes clearer to all parties. On the
other hand, there seems to be a woeful lack of appreciation of the
menace of the 'Cold War,' being waged so relentlessly by the Russian
and Chinese Communists. But this lack of understanding and appraisal
of the meaning of the Cold War menace -- and its possible effects
upon the underdeveloped and the uncommitted nations of the world is not confined to Europe. I think it also exists in the United
States.
"So long as we maintain a strong and well-balanced military
posture -- which means not falling behind and if possible keeping
ahead of a potential enemy in the latest scientific and technological
developments and trained manpower -- we are not likely to be attacked.
The danger to the U.S.A. and the rest of the Free World, as I see it,
is in the expansions and advances being made by the Communist bloc
in the Cold War which they have no intention of discontinuing. The
Free World must do a better job than it is now doing, if it is
successfully to meet the great challenge of World Communism. And
I firmly believe that this challenge can be met."
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ATLANTIC CONGRESS, London
NOTES BY DS FOR DISCUSSION AT PLENARY SESSION JUNE 10, 1959
In the few moments allotted to me, it is obviously impossible to
discuss the basis and the evidence on which my opinions and conclusions
are founded. But those who may be interested to pursue the subject
further, will find a wealth of material in the splendid background papers
submitted to this Conference, by informed and thoughtful authors on the.
propaganda activities of the Communist bloc on the Cold War front.
In these circumstances, I trust that the bare and brief statement
of my opinions and conclusions will not be regarded as dogmatic. For
what they may be worth, here they are:
1. The Nato nations are far behind the Communist nations -
especially the U. S. S. R. - in their efforts, output and
effectiveness in the field of propaganda or psychological
warfare.
2. We are not winning the battle for the "minds of men" and
unless we do much. better than we have done so far, we may
lose the battle on this front - and the Communists may
win it. This would be a disaster of a major order.
Defeat in the Cold War could be as fatal as defeat in a
Hot War. Whether we freeze to death or burn to death is
immaterial. We would be dead just the same.
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$, As the threat of the Hot War recedes, the menace of the
Cold War advances. And the great. danger is that while we
may see and understand a threat, we may not feel or appraise
the menace. Burning is instantaneously painful while freezing
paralyzes the mind and body causing numbness, inaction and
ultimate disintegration.
4. The Cold War began as merely psychological. What is it now?
It may be likened to a table with four legs: 1, military;
2, economic; 3, political; 4, psychological. The Russian
table is built with due regard for the proper length and
thickness of its legs. The weight is shifted and distributed
over the table to suit their purposes.
The Russian Cc4c War table is built to give the appearance of
steadiness. Coptrast this with the unsteady appearance of the
Free World table.
5. Communist's broadcast facilities and expenditures are many
times those of the Free World Nations. Our voice is only a
whisper compared to the Soviet's world-wide voice. Communists
spend more on jamming our broadcasts than the combined expenditures
of Nato nations on all their broadcast services.
6. I recommend adoption of our Committee's Report - without amend-
ments.
DAVID SARNOFF
NOTE: The Committee's Report was adopted as written and the
amendments were defeated.
DS
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WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF
DAVID SARNOFF
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