LETTER TO THE REVEREND VERNON F. GALLAGHER, C.S. SP. FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003000270007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 26, 1951
• Content Type: LETTER

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The Reverend Vernon
PreaSTEir
Pittsburgh 1), Pennyylvania
Dear Father Gallaipwri
26 September 1951
0.3 .
Immedietely prior to, his departure on a two
weeks' trip, General Smith fOund your letter of July 25th
attached to some other docueents* He has eoasequent4
asked me to write you and express to you his regrets at
not having replied to jour letter aim weeks ups.
The Pleats euggested by Father Schlicht
appear to be of greet interest and sheold have worthwhile
results* In this 1 aa sure that Oenerel Smith would agree
with me* Unfortunete4, the press ef Agency busimm; will
preclude the possibility of his being able to participate
in the two parts of the progre.1 Whish you meation.
would also seem somewhat late in the 4, to suggest u
substitute; howevvr, if we use be of eny assistance in
reeesseesding a per so qualified to teach the part of tat
program in relatioa to the effects of Camenaise on the
Russian people and lus effects on Russia's foreign pale],
please do not hesitate to advise un.
have also written to Father othlicht, nclo
Of this letter. iLain, I regret the delay in antwri.4
tter and the dossible i4COOVOUOMOO to you.,
0/DCI JL:mik
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1 - Father Schlicht
2 -
1 - Originator
latoPeltAttly yours,
Exasetive Assistant
to the Director
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C--
DRAFT
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30 July 51
The Reverend Vernon F. Gallagher, C.S.Sp.
President, Duquesne University
Pittsburgh 19, Pennsylvania
Dear Reverend Sir:
Inreceived your letter of July 25, 1951, regarding the
proposed establishment of an Institute on the Philosophy
of Communism, by Father Schlicht, a member of the faculty
at
vf Duquesne University.
Regrettably I am semewhet restricted in my present
position, due to Presidential policy* which prevents me from
commenting or participating in projects of this nature.
Ncyertheless, I have a.sked?one_of my staff,
whom I believe can be of assistance in this matter, to get in
-touch with Father Schlicht.
CC:
ebasic
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1 August 1951
MEMORANDUM FOR GENERAL SMITH
The attached letter from the President of Duquesne requests your
assistance in mapping out a program for the establishment of an
Institute on the Philosophy of Communism at the University. Father
Schlicht, Who will conduct the program, has also written (Tab A)
requesting you to actually teach two parts of the program ----
"the effects of Communism on the Russian people" and "its effectn
on Russia's foreign policy". If you cannot do this he asks that
you recommend someone who could.
Possibly you may wish to recommend Dr. Sidney Hook, Chairmari?
Department of Philosophy, New York University. If so, do you wish
me to prepare appropriate replies for your signature and a letter
to Dr. Hook?
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DUQ UES NE UNIVERSITY
PITTSBURGH 19. PA.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
General Walter B. Smith
2430 E Street
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear General Smith:
July 25, 1951.
Father Schlicht, one of our professors of history, is considering
the establishment of an Institute on the Philosophy of CornmunisT
In the fall of this year. He is writing to you at the present time
to request your advice and assistance in mapping out the progra/ ).
I sincerely hope that you will not regard this as too much of an
imposition on your time and energies. I know the many demands
made upon you in these difficult days, but I hope that your busy
schedule will leave some moments for the consideration of this
problem.
,I have wanted for a long time now to write and tell you how much
I enjoyed reading My Three Years jaMoscow. At this late date,
however, the wide acclaim it received will not be greatly
augmented by the praise of the "Russian Lieutenant".
All good personal wishes and thanks for your interest.
Very sincerely yours,
(Rev.) Vernon F. Gallagher, C,I.S.Sp.,
President
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(AiZe Ce?44&Z 6?*e. / OCA.? (.42CeiL2
?WIALZ2LO -c,..0.9/ 15:v clk
Azocor. A ?it.
64-7C.
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D17GICTESNE UNIVERSITY
PITTSBURGH 19, PA.
General Walter B. Smith
2430 E Street
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear General Smith:
July 25, 195:,
We are trying to develop here at Duquesne University a propag mde
campaign against Communism. The purpose in writing to you iton-
cerning this campaign is twofold. The first purpose, of course, is
to ask your opinion of the effect of the program. The second ptrpo 3-
is to inquire if it will be at all possible for you to participate in. it.
However, first of all I will give you a short outline of the program.
As briefly as possible the story is this: during the past several
years in my capacity as professor of history I have been dealing
rather extensively with the philosophy of Communism. This has
resulted in two surprising observations. First is that even among
junior and senior college students over 90% of those who have
taken the course have previously had no concept of what Commiiuiisr
really is. The second observation was that after studying this
system a fair number of the students have become active in dol ig
what they could to combat this evil. The other students are very
definitely and strongly indoctrinated against Communistic
propaganda. The idea occurred to me then that if this is true of
college students who have nothing in particular in the way of
material things to gain, why would it not also be true of men active
in industry and labor.
Consequently, we have been trying to develop a program which won' i
run along the following lines. There would be an institute lasting
for about fifteen weeks with one two-hour period a week in the
evening, beginning probably on November 5. It would cover the
following topics: the first section would deal with the philosophi
of Communism, showing its basic principles and its consequences
as well as its contrast to the American principles. This EJectio:,,
would be handled by myself chiefly because I have already had
experience in teaching this topic. The next section would deal with
the effects of this philosophy on the industrial Russian working Ilan
and on Russian business in general. The third section would detal
with the effects of this philosophy on world aggression and on the
handling of conquered countries. The next section will derl with
the general propaganda, policy, and methods of the Communists.
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DUQ UESNE UNIVERSITY
PITTISMIRG173 19, PA.
General Walter B. Smith -2- July 25, 1951.
Finally we come down to the propaganda of the Communists in he
United States, dealing with the organization's methods, succes1 es
and failures. This last section, if the program goes into effect,
will be handled by Mr. Matt Cvetic who, by the way, thinks that it
is an excellent program.
We believe that this program will appeal to all of the contlictin
groups in America regardless of the religious beliefs, economic
beliefs or social aims because it appeals to our common
Americanism. Secondly, it should develop a common fear of a
successful Communistic movement, and thirdly, it should show
that no matter what the particular aims of any one group
America may be, Communism is definitely not the answer.
We intend to run the program this year as a trial. If it does wbat
we expect, then it is our hope that a national program along the
same lines will develop, even to the extent, if necessary, of
establishing a national propaganda center for the purpose of
training teams of men to carry the campaign into all part,of the
country and. to all levels of American life. But it is first tieceasary
to make sure that the program will accomplish its purpose. Fo'
that reason, we are trying to get key men from all the Labor ani
Industrial groups to attend the session this year. At the cod of
this session we will hold a discussion to find out if these representa-
tive men from all walks of life think the program is worth exter
I suppose that it is being presumptuous even to ask this. Howev r,
I am wondering if you would possibly be in a position to teach the
two parts of the program concerning the effects of Communism on
the Russian people and its effects on Russia's foreign policy. If
this is not possible for you to do, would you by any chance know
of a man who has been born, raised and educated in. Russia, has
lived under the Communistic regime, and has then come to America
and has been Americanized. The man, of course, would have to -)e
well educated in order to inspire the respect of some of the men
who, I hope, will attend this course and he must also be strongly
anti-Communist.
Sincerely yours,
(Rey)
ohn R. Schlicht,
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