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
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020026-1.pdf218.93 KB
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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 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 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 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 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 CONFIDENTI .. A .. L Page 3of -W - 5Page. Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1 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 CONFIDENTIA Page 4 of -5 Pages Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 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 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1 Approved For Release 2008/03/31 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R003200020026-1