Foreign Relations of the United States, 1917–1972, Volume VIII, Public Diplomacy, 1969–1972

172. Memorandum From A. Denis Clift of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, June 19, 1972

SUBJECT

• USIA Broadcasting after the Moscow Summit²

Acting Director Henry Loomis has sent you a report on USIA’s broadcasting policy to communist and non-communist countries in the post-Moscow-Summit period (Tab B).

In broadcasts to the USSR and other communist countries, USIA plans to:

—indicate US satisfaction with the important summit agreements reached;

—continue to acknowledge disagreements on ideology and Vietnam, clearly stating the US position;

—report internal developments in the USSR that have received significant news attention outside the USSR, with VOA’s emphasis on reporting, not seeking quarrels, eschewing polemics and not magnifying small incidents.

In the autumn, 1972, VOA’s northern Greece facility will begin broadcasts in the Uzbek language.

To non-communist countries, USIA will treat the new US–USSR relationship as an historic and hopeful event, at the same time drawing on statements by the President and other high US officials to emphasize the need for maintaining strength and proceeding cautiously as the US adds still more substance to the emerging world order.

All of these steps would appear to be in order. If you agree, the memorandum for General Haig’s signature to Loomis at Tab A would tell Loomis that USIA is moving in the right direction, particularly with regard to its handling of internal Soviet developments.

RECOMMENDATION

That you approve the memorandum for General Haig’s signature at Tab A.³

Tab B

Memorandum From the Acting Director of the United States Information Agency (Loomis) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)⁴

Washington, June 16, 1972

SUBJECT

• USIA Output After the Moscow Summit

Following the Moscow Summit we have reviewed USIA output worldwide to see which new emphases we should introduce. Our review has included an analysis of the content of the Soviet Union’s media addressed to international audiences. Their output has been cautious, with low-key attention to events in Viet-Nam and a general toning down of critical comment about the United States. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of spontaneous items devoted to examples of US/USSR cooperation.

To the USSR and audiences in other communist nations we wish through USIA’s media to communicate our satisfaction with the important agreements which have been reached and our desire to supplement these with additional accords. We acknowledge that we disagree on ideology and Viet-Nam; and we state clearly the American position on these subjects. We also express the policy of the United States on the Middle East, hoping that the USSR will join us in supporting United Nations resolutions.

When internal developments in the USSR (intellectuals’ dissent, the treatment of religious and national minorities) receive significant news and editorial attention outside of the Soviet Union, the Voice of America will continue to report this back to its audiences in the USSR. VOA’s policy is to eschew polemics, not to seek quarrels with the Soviet Union, not to attempt to magnify small incidents.

In the autumn of this year construction of the VOA facility in northern Greece will be completed. This will enable us to inaugurate broadcasts in the Uzbek language. Depending on the scheduling of transmitter time, we will also increase VOA Russian from 11 hours daily to 13–14 hours a day; and we will increase VOA Ukrainian from two hours daily to three to four hours a day.

To audiences in non-communist countries our radio broadcasts, press, television and film services, and our lecture and book programs will treat the institution of the new US/USSR relationship as an historic and hopeful event which the United States long has strived for. At the same time we shall draw on statements by the President and other high American officials to emphasize the need for maintaining strength and proceeding cautiously as we add still more substance to the emerging world order.

We shall report the facts, which as always have more impact than words.

Henry Loomis

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 295, Agency Files, USIA—Vol. IV—1972 [Jan-Oct 1972] [2 of 2]. Confidential. Sent for action. Howe and Rodman initialed the top right-hand corner of the memorandum. Kissinger wrote “Hold for” on the first page of the memorandum. An unknown hand wrote “HAIG for signature” at the top of the memorandum.
2. The summit took place in Moscow May 13–31. For documentation, see Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, vol. XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971–May 1972, Documents 224–302.
3. Kissinger initialed his approval. The signed version of the memorandum is printed as Document 173.
4. Confidential. According to another copy of the memorandum, Hoffman drafted the memorandum on June 15 and Towery cleared it. Copies were sent to Jenkins, Roberts, Giddens, Miller, and Haney. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 295, Agency Files, USIA—Vol. IV—1972 [Jan-Oct 1972] [2 of 2])