164. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Marks) to the Chairman of the United States Advisory Commission on Information (Stanton)1
During the past several months, I have given considerable attention to the recommendations in the Twenty-second Report of the United States Advisory Commission on Information.2 Each of the recommendations made by the Commission has been studied in detail by the sections affected and reviewed by me.
At the outset, I want the Commission to know that I am heartened by your praise of our efforts and gratified at your recognition of the need for an expansion of the existing program service. I want to assure you that we are aware of the importance of our mission and the heavy responsibility which we bear in attempting to relate American domestic and foreign policy to overseas audiences.
Now, I would like to offer the following comments on the specific points made by your Commission:
[Page 503]1. You recommend the appointment of a permanent Deputy Director chosen from within the career Civil Service or Foreign Service to provide a continuity of management as high-level personnel change periodically.
In 1964 Congress provided for two Deputy Directors—one appointed by the President and the other a career officer. These are permanent positions and have been filled by the type of individual which you describe.
From the time the legislation was passed in 1964 to date, there have been only two Deputy Directors—one held the position for four and one-half years and the present incumbent for two years.3
Moreover, the Deputy for Policy and Plans has always been a career officer and incumbents have held the position for substantial periods of time.
It is my opinion that these two positions meet your objectives. Accordingly, I do not share your view that there should be any additional officer assigned for management responsibility.
2. You also refer to the past practice of assigning Foreign Service Officers to geographic areas with which they have limited knowledge. During my term of office, I have attempted to build up a corps who would specialize in particular areas such as you describe—an Arabic corps, a Slavik corps, an African corps, an Asian corps, a European corps, a Latin American corps. Wherever possible we are now assigning officers to those areas in which they have developed a particular expertise and where their language aptitudes can be used profitably. Because of the need for rotation of officers and transfer to the United States at periodic intervals, it is not always possible to assign personnel to areas in which they have developed particular expertise. Nevertheless, I agree with your concept, support your objectives and am attempting to fulfill them.
3. You recommend the production of information materials tailored to fit local needs. This is a concept with which I thoroughly agree. We strive to meet this requirement and have made great progress in this direction.
Currently, we are publishing 66 magazines for specific countries. For example, in India Span has a circulation of approximately 100,000 and the American Reporter has a circulation of 400,000 solely within that country. We also produce American Review directed to the Indian cultural and intellectual community. Similarly in Russia, we publish America Magazine directed to the Russian audience, and another edition [Page 504] of that publication for the Polish audience. Our activities in other countries are directed along the same lines; the effort to meet local needs will be continued.
4. I share your enthusiasm for our program of English Teaching. Last year, about 300,000 persons studied English through USIS-sponsored programs. In addition, a large audience had the opportunity to study the English language through radio programs broadcast by the Voice of America or over local stations through VOA-supplied tapes. Three series of television programs, “Let’s Learn English,” “Let’s Speak English,” and “Adventures in English” have been distributed in 63 countries. It is my objective to emphasize this aspect of our activity in all under-developed areas of the world.
5. Similarly, I share your enthusiasm for recruiting and training Women’s Affairs Officers to serve in countries where women’s groups are actively participating in society or in emerging societies where this trend is now evident. We have under consideration at this time the addition of a Women’s Affairs Officer in several countries.
6. I note you suggest that we consider a publication which would “deal with democracy, modernization and nation building” as a companion publication to Problems of Communism which you commend so highly.
It is my view that these subjects are treated constantly in various USIA publications and that a single publication devoted to these subjects would not be as effective as the placement of specific articles in many publications which would reach a much larger audience. A specialized publication would have a very restricted appeal and could only reach a limited audience. You can see that our present system enables us to reach many more people with significant information on these vital topics.
7. You point out the necessity of providing opinion-forming groups with information on the free labor movement in the United States and on the progress of free labor organizations around the world. I support this objective.
We have at present a full-time Labor Information Officer in the Office of Policy, and similar officers in our posts in Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Bogota, Montevideo and Caracas. I have stressed the importance of disseminating labor information and the need for highly-trained officers to carry out the mission. Currently, I am in the process of recruiting an additional Labor Information Officer and will seek others as opportunities arise and our budget permits.
8. I share your enthusiasm for the work being carried on by the Binational Centers, particularly in Latin America as referred to by Ambassador Charles W. Cole in his report to me from which you quote.4
[Page 505]To encourage the development of these institutions, last year I authorized the expenditure of $332,000 to assist in the improvement of physical facilities in seven countries. This year I have requested an authorization of $1 million for this purpose.
To assist in the recruitment of qualified persons as directors of these centers, I am converting these positions from contract status to that of regular employees. I believe that this action will attract more able young people and will keep in our service those who have recently been recruited and who have performed so admirably.
9. You comment on our libraries and recommend that the percentage of books in the language of the host country be at least 50% and preferably 75%. It has not been possible in the past to reach this level but we are currently adding to our library shelves more books in the languages of the country. Progress is slow since there are not enough suitable books available in translation. For the most part we are dependent upon the translations we sponsor ourselves.
Moreover, I have recently created a committee of distinguished scholars to recommend 250 or more titles of “Great American Classics” so that all of our libraries and reading rooms may have this basic collection. I am confident that it will prove of great value throughout the world and will lift the level of reading material for those scholars who are seeking a wider knowledge of American history, social and political science, culture, drama and scientific accomplishments.
During the past year we have also completed a program of displaying classic American art in all of our libraries through the use of high quality lithographs. At this date, approximately 100 libraries in 76 countries have participated in the program.
10. I note your comments about the need for a vigorous information program in Western Europe and for an expansion of our European programs for youth which should be centered around libraries.
I have previously reported to your Commission my desire to expand our information effort in Western Europe. In a recent appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee, I placed these views in the Record and testified to the need. In our budget request for Fiscal 1969 an expansion of this program will be sought.
11. You advocate the installation of equipment which would become “a corporate memory.” A program of this nature has been started and a computer has been installed for our administrative records. We plan on an expansion of this computer service to include substantive material such as you describe.
12. I concur in your suggestion that our training program is basic to the Agency’s operations. You note that I have appointed a new Director of Training and have given him full support for a drastic [Page 506] revision in this effort.5 Although insufficient time has elapsed to note the full effect of such changes, I am heartened by the progress which has been made.
13. You recommend that the Agency “renew its contacts with the academic community, rekindle its interest and invite its suggestions, reviews and commentaries.” I subscribe to this philosophy and have constantly endeavored to achieve this result.
14. You suggest that the inspection program be broadened to include civilian review of Agency operations. Towards this end, I have appointed prominent private individuals as Public Members of inspection teams. Between now and the end of the year, five additional Public Members will be assigned to inspection teams. We have received numerous benefits from such individual appraisals. The program will be expanded as conditions permit.
15. You suggest a formulation of a ten-year program culminating in the celebration of the American Bicentennial in 1976. I have not yet done so because of more urgent and immediate problems. Hopefully, I can give serious consideration to this suggestion next year.
The above comments on the principal suggestions made in the chapters of your report entitled, “Recommendations for Action by the USIA.”
In addition, you propose to Congress that legislation be adopted for a career service for the U.S. Information Agency. I continue to advocate such legislation and am currently awaiting hearings on Administration-sponsored legislation for this purpose.
Finally, you also suggest that Public Law 402 be amended so that the “American taxpayer should no longer be prohibited from seeing and studying the product a government agency produces with public funds for overseas audiences.” I have testified before congressional committees that:
1. I have no objection to making any of our products available for inspection. We have nothing to hide and are indeed proud of our efforts.
2. However, I do not wish to take the initiative in requesting any funds for the dissemination to United States citizens of books, pamphlets, films or radio broadcasts prepared under our auspices. If Congress should authorize such, we shall gladly cooperate.
In the concluding portion of your report you recommend to Congress and the President that additional funds be allocated for future Agency operations. I concur and as previously stated will request such in our submission to the Bureau of the Budget for Fiscal 1969.
[Page 507]These comments are designed to acquaint you with my thinking on the very significant problems which you have outlined and to report on specific projects which are underway to meet the objectives that you have so ably described. Our principal officers and I have greatly benefited from the careful consideration which your Commission gives to our program. We welcome the close relationship which exists and will strive to maintain and justify your confidence in our program.
Sincerely,
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, Director’s Subject Files, 1967–1967, Entry UD WW 108, Box 1, Advisory Group—Information 1967. No classification marking. Drafted by Marks on August 31. Copies were sent to Novik, Larmon, Hoyt, and Van Husen Vail. An unknown hand wrote “sent 9/1 nra” in the bottom right-hand corner of the memorandum. NRA are the initials of Marks’ secretary.↩
- Reference is to The Twenty-Second Report of the United States Advisory Commission on Information to the Congress of the United States, January 26, 1967.↩
- Presumably a reference to Donald Wilson, who was Deputy Director from 1961 to 1965, and to Robert Akers, who was the Deputy Director at the time.↩
- Not further identified.↩
- Presumably a reference to James J. Halsema, who was appointed Chief of the Training Division of the USIA Office of Personal and Training in September 1966.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩