STAFF STUDY ON PUBLICITY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN WEAPONS
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020026-1
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
C
Document Page Count:
6
Document Creation Date:
January 4, 2017
Document Release Date:
March 31, 2008
Sequence Number:
26
Case Number:
Publication Date:
December 26, 1951
Content Type:
STUDY
File:
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020026-1.pdf | 218.93 KB |
Body:
Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1
CONFIDENTIAL
Security Xpf ormat1 on PSB D-'17d
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
NSC review completed
26 December 1951
Copy 4
STAFF STUDY ON PUBLICITY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN WEAPONS
This Staff Study was Accepted
by Action of the
Ps;ychol9gical Strategy Board
on December 2O, 1951
The Board Amended the REOOMIENDATIONS
as indicated on Page
(THIS S AN APPROVED STAFF STUDY)
Security Information
DONFI DEITTIAL,
Page 1 tf 5 Pages
MORI/CDF ppl-5
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C 0 H F I D E N T I A L
EZ Information copy No.
PSB D-17d
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
Washington, D. C.
26 December 1951
STAFF STUDY ON PUBLICITY WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN WEAPONS
PROBLEM
1. To establish a procedure for the development and prc*nulgation
of policy guidance for the content of governmental statements with
respect to the existence, development and contemplated uses of weapons
using atomic power for propulsion or explosion, guided missies, and
biological, radiological and chemical weapons,
FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM
2. Adequate machinery does not now exist for guidance of senior
officials of the government in formulating and issuing statements 3n
the subject of the above mentioned weapons. The need for such guidance
has recently been demonstrated by the conflicts in approaches to this
subject taken by officials including those of the Atomic Energy
Commission and the Department of Defense. In addition, opportunities
are presently being lost for profitable exploitation abroad of the
psychological possibilities inherent in weapons themes relating to these
weapons,
DISCUSSION
3. Public statements covering these weapons must be based on con-
sidered appraisal of -the following $ indamental principles:
a. -_._estic information responsibilities
The Governwtent has an obligation to provide the American
people with authoritative information concerning the nature and scope of
recently developed weapons. When practicable, such statements should be,
Sec---:y Information
C O N F II D E N T I A L Page 2 of 5 Pages
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C O N F I D E T I A
Security Information PSB D-17d
so designed as to avoid intensifying anxiety unduly. They must also
be designed to obtain wide public support of national policy in the
use of such weapons in the national interest.
b. Security
Security considerations require that certain weapons
information must be kept secret, despite public information considera-
tions.
c. In~3tional repercussions
The present international situation requires that the
effect upon foreign groups should be taken into account with regard to
the timing, place of release, and source of any public statements
regarding weapons.
*ft. Mechanisms now existing do not provide for representation of
all agencies having an interest in the problem. They are particularly
inadequate with respect to representation of the foreign information
aspects,
5. In the course of drafting this study, the Psychological
Strategy Board Staff received informal comments from the departments
indicating that it is objectionable to create a guidance mechanism which,
takes into consideration only the foreign effects of domestic public
statements with respect to the weapons with which this paper deals.
Domestic information policy is a matter not within the compe_,
tence of PSB. The Office of Public Information of the Department of
Defense is primarily responsible for the formulation of domestic public
information policy on biological warfare, radiological warfare and
chemical warfare. Other means exist for the maintenance of security
with respect to these weapons.
The creation of an additional agency to provide foreign informz
tion policy guidance would result in competing agencies dealing respec-
tively with the security, the domestic information and the foreign infoi
mation aspects of the problem. Adequate guidance however can be provide
Sec ity Information
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CO-NFI D E N T I A L
Sec urity Information
PSB D-17d
only through a single mechanism which has the competence to deal with
all three aspects of the problem.
6. Since the primary purpose of the development of such weapons
is their utilization in war, and since the Department of Defense has the
major responsibility for the maintenance of security with respect to
such weapons, it appears that a mechanism to achieve the purpose
described in paragraph 5 above should be organised under the chairman-
ship of a member of the Department of Defense. This committee should be
composed of one or more members from each of the following agencies:
The White House Staff, the Psychological Strategy Board, the Department
of State, Central Intelligence Agency and the Atomic Energy Commission.
A representative of the Federal Civil Defense Administration should sit
as appropriate with the committee for information of interest to that
agency. Members must be so selected as to take cognizance of the three
major aspects of the problem: foreign information, domestic information
and security.
(RECOMMENDATIONS
( 7.
E
t
C
a. That the Secretary of Defense be requested to organise
a Weapons Information Guidance Committee composed as
indicated in paragraph 6,
b. That he be requested to instruct this committee to prepare
as a matter of urgency a national information policy
guidance for statements with respect to the weapons referre
to in paragraph 1, taking into consideration the foreign
information, domestic information and security aspects of
the problem.
c. That the Department of Defense member inform the Board
when this action has been completed.
Sect Information
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C O N F I D E N T I A L
Security Inforr"ation
PSB D-17d
The Board accepted the Staff Study at the Seventh Meeting but
amended the RECOMENDATICM5 to provide that the Corimittee would be
organized by the Boars anFd chaired by a representative of the Depart-
ment of Defense.
Director
Security lnformtjon
CONFIDENTIAZ Page5ot5Pages
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Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1