PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD (PSB)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003400010024-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 8, 2003
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: June 1, 1951
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2003/04/22: &eF$" R017i1'k00
1 June 19151
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Barrett, State
Mr. Davison, State
Mr. Crutcher, State
General Magruder, Defense
Colonel Davis, Defense
Admiral Stevens, JCS
Colonel Philbin, JCS
Mr. Frank Wi rn,, . r'TA
25X1
SUBJECT: -=
(bsychological Strategy Board (Psi)
1. Attached hereto ism the final edition of the papers
which have been cooperatively prepared by the officials respon-
sible for working out plans for the Psychological Strategy Board.
I have made every effort to faithfully reflect theagreements
which we have reached and have tried to make all the proposed
changes which in recent days have been submitted. At Mr. Dulles'
suggestion an editorial rearrangement of the papers has been
made which I trust will in no way damage the substantive points.
69 Immediately attached hereto is a paper entitled
"Unofficial Comments and Suggestions of OPC Members of Ad Hoc
Cormittee." While it is not requested that the group at this
time reconsider the papers in the light of these suggestions
it is hoped that these views will be read and at the appropriate
time given consideration as the Board and its Staff evolve.
JAMES Q. REBER
Assistant Director
Intelligence Coordination
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fR at
 SECRET
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1 June 1951
MEMORANDUM FOR : DEPUTY DIRECTOR (PLANS)
SUBJECT: Psychological Strategy Board (PSB)
1. Attached is the paper which you wanted to give to
General Smith this weekend.
2. You will also find immediately hereunder a paper
entitled "Unofficial Comments and Suggestions of OPC Members
of Ad Hoc Committee." You recall my mentioning that Mr. Wisner's
staff had belatedly got to work on this problem. We had a
special meeting of the ad hoc committee to discuss their points.
It was agreed that in view of the lateness of the hour and the
area of agreement already reached that it would be unwise and
unnecessary to reopen the whole question to take into account
these points. They are submitted, however, for information and
to be taken into account if, as, and when that is believed
desirable. This paper will also be distributed to the other
members of your party.
25X1
JA1I.,S Q. REBER
(As stant Director
Intelligence Coordination
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3EcR r
UNOFFICIAL C- -1101ENTS AND SUGGESTIONS OFOPC IKMEERS OF AD HO( CO=1 ITTEE
Our difficulty with the attachments to the .memorandum proposed for Mr.
.Dulles' signature stems from the treatment of the Jssue described in the
@ttacharme.nts as follows:
"'Tinder one view the Psycholog=ical Strategy Ij Board tnd its
atr,ff would emphasize the function of coordinr.tion among exist-
ing agencies. Under another view the Psychological St3:-ate s
Board and its Staff would itself s ystematicaU..y plan and direct
the psychological strategy of the ? cold' war.'
in disagreeing over this issue the majority of the ad hoc group felt that
it, might be deferred until after the appointment of the :Director. Although
we would be perfectly content to have the question deferred until the Direc-
tor is appointed, we do not believe that:, this is the action which the major-
ity has taken. As we read the attachments, they require the Staff to he
coordinators rather than planners, and we are fearful that the adoption of
these termis of reference in their present fora might will jeopardize the
Director's ability to conceive of his functions as being of ierwise.
The President's directive indicates that he intended that the Psycholo-
gical Strategy Board be more than a coordinating mechanism. In our view,
the Board is expected to define the objectives which this country should
seem in the "cold" war situation, to develop the plans for attaining them,
and to coordinate the carrying out of the plans by the responsible operat-
ing agencies. Thus, the purpose of his directive is "to authorize and pro-
vide for the more effective planning, coordinations and conduct, within the
framework of approved national policies, of psychological operations." The
Board is responsible "for the formulation and promulgation of overall psycho-
-logical objectives, policies, and programs and for the coordination and
evaluation of the national psychological effort," which is defined as in-
cluding "all activities (other than overt types of economic warfare) en-
visioned under NSC 59/1 and 10/2."
The President's directive thus notes in effect that the weaknesses
In our "cold" war effort are our lack of well-defined national objectives
(below the NSC level) and our lack of an overall strategic plan for the
achievement of these objectives, We feel, therefore, that the Board and its
Staff should concentrate its efforts from the outset in the satisfaction of
these requirements and that its organization papers shoiki reflect this
priority.
SECRET
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