DEAR MR. DULLES:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06365A000200060004-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/11/01: CIA-RDP78-06365A0002QW60004-1
THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
WASHINGTON
Dear Mr. Dulles:
It was most thoughtful of you to send me a memorandum on
the Central Intelligence Agency's Language Development Program.
I have read this with great interest, and congratulate you warmly
on the progress you have made since February 1957. The intro-
duction of a meaningful incentive system was a brilliant idea
which I hope will be initiated eventually by other agencies.
Sure of their interest, I have forwarded your memorandum
to those specialists in the Office of Education who are most
concerned in the foreign language aspects of Public Law 85-864.
As you know, one of the explicit purposes of the National Defense
Education Act of 1958 is to serve the needs of Government. Our
specialists have interpreted the intention of the Congress as
meaning, not only present, but also future needs. Obviously,
in the predicting of future needs, a close cooperation between
the Office of Education and the Central Intelligence Agency is
indispensable. It is reassuring, therefore, that you have already
seen fit to take this first step.
I was particularly interested in some of the remarks in
your covering letter of November 27th. You will know that I share
your views on the great importance of foreign language and area
training. I note also your emphasis on the improvement of
language instruction at the undergraduate level. As you doubtless
realize, the Act does not directly provide support for this
except in terms of the critical languages, as determined by the
Commissioner, and in terms of research on language learning in
general. The emphasis in Title VI is on language teaching in the
elementary and secondary schools, and on advanced training for
language and area people. The problem of improving instruction
in the "usual" languages at the undergraduate level, therefore,
may well deserve our future study.
My renewed thanks for your interest and your helpfulness.
Sincerely yours,
Hon. Allen W. Dulles
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington 25, D. C.
Approved For Release 2002/11/01: CIA-RDP78-06365A000200060004-1