REUTER'S TREATMENT OF NEWS CONCERNING THE US

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01049A000200070004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 4, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 23, 1950
• Content Type: MEMO

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State Department review completed
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 Tot .t rag Publications Division, Projects Plarnir4,
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Project: IP-154
CENTMAL I13TEILIGENGE AGENCY
OFFICE OF REPORTS AND ESTTfIATE.S
Project Initiation Memo
Dates 23 August 1950
Tot D/Pub
From; Publications Division, Projects Planning
Subject: I eutert s troatmont of nevus concerning the US
nt of Pro3oct
Itateme
(am: Internal
Problem: To examine Reuters a handling of news concerning the US to
ascertain whether such news is "slanted" in a direction detrimental
to US interestso
Sco e: The study includes cone ments by tro regional divisions of ORE,
and the result of a press scan by FDD
Graphics
Form: Memorandum
Draft due in D/'ub: 23 August 1950 24. Auggust 1950
R one b eDiy ;sion: D/Pub to prepare memorandum.
Internal Coordination: D/No and DAM to contribute com lent,
FDD to make novvapaper scan
Departmental res nab tiJS: None
Classification to be no ha,hey than: Restricted
Recormiended Dissemination:
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 Approve
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TO:
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REMARKS:
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 NOW
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020.6
24 August 1950
MMORANDUM FOR: D/Pub, ORE
ATTENTION
SUBJECT
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0
: Reuter's News Agency
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1. This will confirm my telephone conversation of 18 August 1954
for infornationzelative to the Reuter's News Agency and specifically
for examples of slanted anti-US reporting especially in the Southeast
Asia area.
2. The strenous efforts made by your office to accomplish the
above request within the limited period of time allowed you are
deeply appreciated.
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 .ROUTI N.G AND RECORD SHEET
INSTRUCTIONS: Officer designations should be used in the "To" column. Under each comment a line should be drawn
across sheet arlT,eacht4mment n.umbered-io correspond with the number'in the "To"column. Each officer should initial
(Check mark insuffIcient) before further routing. Tliis'Record and Routing Sheet should be returned to lkijistry..
FROM:
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DATE 24 August 1950
TO -
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DATE
OFFICER'S
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INITIALS
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D/Pub ORE
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RESTRICTED
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 Approved For Release 200;?;[ i 79TO1049A000200070004-5
D/PL b
DINO
23 August 1950
Reuters treatment of American participation in the fighting in Korea,
as indicated in Reuters items appearing in the press of the Union
of South Africa and of Ireland.
An analysis of Reuters news was made especially difficult in
the few papers cowered (Rand Daily Mail The Natal Slercury. and
The Irish Times) because the rarf the appearance of a
Reuters item itself. In the South African papers. Reuters is
often just one of several news-gathering agencies credited for a given
article. Insofar as Reuters news could be examined, no appreciable
"slanting" could be discovered. An occasional item in describing
an American defeat might be a bit more blunt in calling it a defeat
than would American, news agencies. In general, however# Reuters
relied heavily upon the official news releases to describe the
changing battle lines and troop movements. On at least one occasion
Reuters appeared to go out of its way to justify an American
wi thdrawal.
It may be remarked that Reuters is a wire agency in direct and
acute competition with US Press Associations, and, as such, attempts
to take advantage of any opportunities offered. For example,
Reuter', releases are quite often timed for 7,30 PH, although the
information would have been previously available except for the
release time.,, thereby just coming within the deadline for British
papers but not for the US press. Although there may perhaps be a
political basis for Reuter'', attitude, the existence of the strong
competition in this particular field of newspaper reporting is bound
to lead to a certain irritation and friction.
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Reuter Re ws Reporting.
22 August 1950
I refer to your conversation of yesterday regarding the nature of Reuter
i.te.
It has long been common knowledge -- in my own experience for nine
years -- that Router has persistently and consistently emphasized in its des-
patches from the US to the Indian sub-continent the most lurid and least
flattering aspects of American life, and that even when the item is in itself
not of a sensational natures the manner of presentation is often detrimental
to US Interests. The matter has to my personal knowled a been discussed with
officials of Reuter (I am enable to give dates or names , who deny any anti-
American slant and maintain regarding the subject matter of the items that
Reuter as a business organization must provide its customers with the type of
material most sought after; that the Indian press prefers sensational stories
from America.
The objectionable features of Router's reporting are, however, so coon-
sistent that I personally an convinced, despite any arguments to the contrary
by Reuter, that the organization, or at least many members of it, attempts
to discredit the in the eyes of Indiana as a matter of deliberate policy.
While as earlier intiaaated, Router ' s unsavory reputation from the point of
view of US national interests is generally recognized in government circles,
inquiry in the Department of State and search of our own files do not ndi-
sa?ate that a collection of objectionable Neuter's items could be tediately
assembled.
There are transmitted herewith such communications bearing on the matter
as has been possible to find. It is requested that these c - nations be
returned to s office. 25X1 A
CROss j
Einar
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Et i .4( 307313
ii ST,t Ti.D AMitiIC.LN , AB--X6 Y
Z:sv, i sibi, India, March 28, 1949
Subject: neuter's Treatment of '.ashingtox hews Items
THc. HC;NC tt tB i
THL :;If.C`% -TAaY 01'` .,`I'nitRk,
.~~;HIhGTu.:.
Sir:
I have the heAor to c+a1 L .tt.ntiee to two news stories
datelisad >ashiii ;tou, Larch 25 a:id widely disseminated in
India by tips -tress Trust of Ir din qruter's Service. In
each cage the treatment give,, bj teuter's is such that a
re.otia.. unfavoras,le t:. the Uidted ,tdLss mint ari.ss lu
the :ands of Ii.di.e rim 1ers. The oew's stories li, uuAstisa
are first tae cur souricstnil:t from v.shi,, t*x of the now flCA
developrnsr,t divisisr, t id secss,adly, ar: mlloged dicisisa on
tie part of ttie U5 iist to ei,Le into L'urttasr rs6isaal
pacts. The ..eater' I TI res,*rt ou both these matters is
enclosed .., well -s t=ie text a the official Dsprrtmeutal
release sit tug :sta.. r.ie-isiop ,e d 1biisuo
The coatrabt bstwesu the text of the XCA release as
orficially dissemit...ted by USJ,, from o.sliiagtoit and as
rs. ortod by tteutsr' y is qui Le isterestiag:
ctcuter's states that the asw developmsat
divisivft' s pre ,,,ram is t : .id ,urespoan recovery
by util1 zit.e; tip, colsui.l resources or M rshwll
Plat. ceuxtriss. The efiicial text states that
the sb;;ect is t:. help Ddars :all Ilan ceuutries
promote the gaawth or their underdeveloped
territories,
cLeuts.r's states that the program %ould try
t? uncover badly ceded :.upp,ies of strategie
C mater i.? ii i,i . uur~i e's cal""" territories in-
eludifie mangaass*, tusgstes, etc. The official
text says that the first txsk is to help eliminate
disease emu i:stpr?ve be.iLh st.sadards in under-
developed areas aDd that the primary problem is
to raise the standard of livi*g.:
Router'-- quote* w:r - ''r-vYard Pauco, Deputy
shAyicg that "via are iC6W
prepared t:, move ahead ra:-duly". mcoordiAg to the
official text, Ur. Er:.ca amr,hasized t.h st the pro-
from is still is the "thin .ins stage .cad definite
projects are, to be worked vat".
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Dr-s- tct iwo~
Ash 23, 1949
New Delhi, IndIL -
It is oler .r from the rele :.se enclosed here-
with that the Economic ;oop rz..tion n1(3.&1inistration 1xis organized
a scup division with the st::.tec? purro,e of vor1dn~; out pro-
grams, for the assistvnce of underdeveloped dependent areas.
Yet &euter's trec.tment of tiiic .~nnouncanent might su rest
to "Ginn re:. ders thot the new division was ere -ted to aid
the metronolitan ,~+..:ers : nd also the United St~.tes, to e&
plint colonial areas ::n1 that its alleged interest in
strategic rew nl?ter:1cts erd:- so.: how re? -ted to oret>uration
for a war. It will be recalled in this cop section that Prime
i=inister ilehru has trice rei n .ted in addresses on foreign
policy during, i`:.rch ti at to&,y few international issues
were bciA; dealt with on merit but reflected inste-.d a
certain ;w-aexverirw for position in prepxx-tion for a
future war. It would not be surprising t ,en if Indian
readers of the story as reported r Reuter's fried an un-
fz,_vor.ble opinion of the ne::i division of . and orgpnization
from which so ranch is h.iped for the rehabilitation of
y;urope, includinl; i3ritain.
The second Reut-or's story ::attribates to "i1orth -atlantic
di.olo: :ts" the view the t the t.tl~ntic P: ct covers throats
to their sec=-tri tw from develo~ cents in rosy part of the world.
It would be unfrir to conclude that the Reuter's correspon-
dent t:ho wrote the fore`,oin I r^
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