If this summary stimulates further discussion at your post of some of the
main issues we faced at Manila, it will have served its main purpose. We
have not attempted here to underline points of particular favor here in the
Agency. Rather, we have tried to reflect as accurately as possible the gist
of our remarks and the trends in the participants’ thinking.
Some of these opinions—and our own policy decisions—will be incorporated in
the 1969 Area Plan and possibly in other communications from IAF.
I regret that various splashdowns have prevented us from getting this to you
sooner.
Enclosure
PAO Conference
Report Summary Prepared in the United States Information
Agency3
Washington, undated
USIA
EAST AND PACIFIC PAO CONFERENCE
Manila, May 9–11, 1969
SUMMARY OF CONFERENCE REPORT
PAOs and Acting PAOs from 14 IAF posts
met in Manila for three days of discussion. Deputy Director Loomis and representatives of IAF, IPS,
IPT and RSC/Manila participated in the meeting. USIA officers assigned to CINCPAC and on loan to the Army on
Okinawa were accompanied by military representatives from CINCPAC and 7th Psy Ops Group, Okinawa. (Since Deputy
Director Henry Loomis’s remarks
were taped and sent to each PAO, they
are not included in this summary.)
I. PPBS: We
agreed that despite some usefulness, the total exercise as presently
constituted has not been worth the effort. But some regular analysis of
our programs is needed, possibly not annually. Exposures as a main
pillar of PPBS should be dropped.
II. Attitudes Towards America: Asians are, to
varying degrees, America watchers. America’s domestic problems are,
however, first viewed in terms of their possible influence on US policies and actions towards Asia. Many
PAOs saw little evidence of intellectual interest in US racial, urban and student disorders and
their causes. But there was general agreement that US prestige is diminished when we are not
able to solve our own problems at home.
PAOs emphasized that the image of the US
usually depended more on the state of bi-lateral relations (security
treaty, Okinawa, Korean military modernization, trade restrictions) than
on developments within the US.
PAOs agreed that evidence of progress in solving our domestic problems
was needed. It was suggested that the Agency summarize more frequently
progress in integration, the elimination of poverty, etc.
III. US Policy in
Asia: It was also suggested that posts should plan Americana
programming after first analyzing local interests and objec
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tives of the host country, then
selecting information about the American experience which can be made
relevant to those local interests.
To meet field needs dealing with the United States, the Agency must take
into account divergent levels of understanding, even within one
geographic area. This has been a problem with world-wide films. PAOs
were full of praise for films on the Apollo project, but wished for
faster delivery. More acquired films should be offered the posts (copies
of IMV acquisitions were
distributed.)
It was also suggested that the Agency prepare a regular feature on “what
Americans are thinking,” based on numerous domestic polls, and that the
Agency cover more fully favorable comment about the US from well-known foreign specialists.
Oleksiw described Assistant
Secretary Green’s emphasis on
“modesty, mutuality and multi-lateralism” and suggested that these
themes should be applied to USIS work
as well as to US foreign policy in Asia.
He also suggested that, as US policies
are reassessed and newly articulated, USIS posts must find ways of demonstrating continued US interest in Asia. Assistant Secretary
Green’s emphasis on Asian
initiatives and cooperation was noted, and it was suggested that there
needs to be more stress on Asian commitment to Asian progress. Many PAOs
reported uncertainty as to the direction of US foreign policy and especially the strength of US commitments in Asia.
There was general agreement that while regional cooperation is desirable,
its development would be difficult in the absence of a US defensive umbrella. Furthermore, the
chances for an Asian regional security system appeared to the conferees
to be slim.
IV. USIA and National
Development: While there was general agreement that USIS posts in developing countries should
be involved in national development (where national development was a
goal of the USG), there may be a lack
of precision in understanding the overall US objective and in defining the best areas for USIS concentration. To a large extent,
the role of USIS in national
development must be shaped by the differing situation in each country.
Thus there must be flexibility in the USIA approach to nation-building. An overall, governing
policy from Washington would probably be impractical.
Posts should avoid national development programs which get ahead of
US national interests; posts should
not imply that we have all the answers to another country’s
developmental problems. But we should be thoroughly involved in AID programs, especially dealing with
communications, and develop appropriate USIS efforts which are coordinated with AID and clearly serve US national goals in the host country.
Discussion of USIS development activity
in various IAF countries brought out
these particularly important points:
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1. Through the communications media, the educational system, and
community organizations, USIS can
stimulate discussion and foster actions supporting national
development.
2. In most cases, USIS is a catalyst,
bringing people and ideas together, sharing both US and other relevant experience and scholarship. Our
purpose is to foster a climate conducive to the growth of free
institutions, social/economic progress and national unity.
3. In some instances, especially in insurgency-threatened situations and
especially where host governments are ill-prepared, USIS can contribute effectively to
training in information skills of host country officials.
4. USIS can also sometimes provide
useful information advice, where host governments welcome this
assistance, and information equipment as well, working with AID. But an objective should be to
strengthen host government ability to operate its own information
programs, not to reinforce dependence on USIS.
5. In support of national development goals, USIS posts need to identify the “agents of change,” those
in and out of government, often not among the top leadership, who are
advocating and carrying out significant changes likely to promote
national development. These “agents” may be at the bureau level within
ministries, among student leaders, within the political opposition,
among religious leaders or young, upcoming journalists. They are often
not among the elite, who often tend to be more satisfied with the status
quo.
6. Key obstacles to national development are: a) unfamiliarity of urban
leaders with conditions and attitudes in rural areas; b) insufficient
local media understanding of national development; c) traditionalism; d)
inadequate exchange of information and experience with other developing
countries.
V. New Approaches to Programming
1. Seminars
Seminars, both single-country and regional, can be useful if: they are
well-planned; there is sufficient local interest and indigenous
sponsorship; there is careful selection of participants; and there is
imaginative follow-up. Seminars provide an excellent means of targetting
ideas to the right people; they can provide a focus for multi-media
support from Washington and locally; they facilitate exchange of views
among Asian leaders and hence encourage regional ties and cooperation.
One caveat: US visibility should be
low.
2. Books and Libraries
It is important for USIS posts to help
strengthen indigenous libraries and to provide them with essential books
about the United States and supporting US foreign policies. We should not be satisfied with
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the reading room syndrome, but
should get the right books to the right people, through their own
institutions where possible. Our own libraries can be very useful in
some countries. In others, we should work to turn the books over to
local libraries, as we have done in Australia, concentrating our own
effort on stronger reference collections. As USIS posts improve their reference service and focus more
sharply on targetting books to selected audiences, they will need better
trained library personnel.
3. Translations
Bangkok has developed very extensive commercial distribution of Agency
books in Thai through promotion of sales of Seripharb (Horizons). A new title a
month is published, and 6–9,000 copies are sold commercially. Each title
is offered to Seripharb’s 43,000 subscribers at a
special rate (about $.20). Each issue of Seripharb sent to subscribers included a promotional flyer.
The books are also sold over the counter. Post funds were involved
originally in establishing a revolving fund for the distributor who now
makes a steady, small profit. There are no distribution costs to USIS now.
4. P.L. 480 India
Text Book Program
Over 400 have been published in India. USIS Burma is using counterpart Kyats to pay for the books
published with surplus rupees.4 The books represent an excellent collection of
texts in the natural and social sciences as well as literature. (IAF will be communicating separately5
with posts concerning possible interest in purchasing sample collections
for display purposes.)
5. American History in Asian Textbooks
Singapore and several other posts have managed to stimulate government
interest in either acquiring or producing locally textbooks on the
United States history for secondary school use. While much has been done
by some posts, there is room for additional initiative at some posts
with local education ministries, school boards, textbook writers and
publishers to improve the coverage of the US.
6. Bi-National Centers
They can be an excellent means of accomplishing our cultural and some
informational objectives, as well as being influential centers of
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English teaching. The
bi-national character of these centers is in keeping with the Marshall Green philosophy of lowering
the purely American presence. BNCs should do more than teach English;
and special attention in English discussion groups should be given to
USIS target groups, especially
English teachers.
7. Regional Programming
Regional programs can strengthen regional cooperation and encourage
expert attention to mutual problems. Regional programming can mean a
forthcoming brochure on regional development projects in East Asia; an
upcoming exhibit on the road to development; a regional seminar on
ETV, urbanization or community
action; articles in Horizons6 describing development problems
and solutions; post-produced films—in or out of country—showing relevant
development efforts; regional, Asian TV
cooperation in production of a series on regional affairs; closer
relations between USIS posts and the
headquarters of regional organizations in the various countries; or a
regional seminar of American studies scholars.
It was pointed out that regional cooperation was an objective in itself
(to be discreetly supported) and a means of
reaching significant audiences with multi-media supported, in-depth
programs involving American specialists who cannot visit each post.
PAOs’ views on other regional or sub-regional projects requiring Agency
support and coordination were sought: what could the Agency do to help
posts strengthen contacts with labor leaders? Should there be an IAF-based regional national development
officer to advise posts on their programs, to provide liaison between
specialists in Asia and between them and counterparts in the US? Are there regional ties in American
studies in Asia that should be strengthened by a regional seminar every
year or so and by eventual establishment of an East Asian American
Studies Association? Should we plan a regional meeting (and the needed
follow-up) on the role of the university in national development?
8. Youth
Developing a meaningful dialogue with university students and young
professionals should be the focus of special post efforts by most IAF countries.
9. Films
It is easier to make a good film than it is to use it properly. There is
much room for improvement in the use of Agency films. There are
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still posts where the main
effort is through over-the-counter, first-come, first-serve loans.
VI. USIA and Japan,
Viet-Nam and China
1. Japan
While Japanese favor a more active role in Asian affairs, there is little
public interest in specific Asian countries except China, with which
Japanese want to improve relations.
While Southeast Asians are willing to receive assistance from Japan, many
fewer see a mutuality of interests with Japan.
It is both USIA and Department policy
to encourage a larger Japanese role in Asian regional development. This
requires careful programming by USIS
Japan and the cooperation in some instances of Embassies and USIS posts in Southeast Asia. PAOs noted
that the Japanese image in Southeast Asia is not good. Memories are
long; Japanese businessmen are aggressive; and Japanese economic power
causes some anxiety.
While Japanese cooperation in Asian development is desired by the US (and by other Asian governments), there
is little support in SEA or Japan
proper for a Japanese role in the region’s security.
2. Viet-Nam
JUSPAO’s third-country information
services were reviewed for the PAOs. They consist of:
—Fast Film Clip Service for TV: in IAF, Bangkok, Seoul, Djakarta and Manila
receive regularly. When speed is important, films are processed in
Viet-Nam. JUSPAO can respond to
special TV film requests.
—Media Client Mailers: primarily for journalists, mostly those who have
worked in Viet-Nam. Sent once or twice a month. Includes captured
documents, research notes, development stories.
—Photo Service: 77 posts receive.
—Feature Service: especially good. Used as backgrounders and for
research. Stories in depth, fairly long.
—IPS Coverage: filed over 550 stories in
FY ’69. Mostly stories from outside
Saigon. JUSPAO needs to know how
these stories are used.
—VOA: coverage in Mandarin, Cambodian
and Vietnamese, two correspondents for English broadcasts.
—Captured Documents and Research Notes Service: this service seems to be
especially well received by newspapers.
—PAO Orientation Program: ten-day
briefings and inspection, groups of 4–5 PAOs. Field trips included. A
valuable program, well received around the world by Agency PAOs.
—Third-Country Journalists Program: posts should discourage journalists
planning to visit Viet-Nam from thinking they will receive VIP treatment. They will receive solid
briefings, but not from Ambassa
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dor Bunker or General Abrams. JUSPAO will assign a USIS
officer to each visitor, but programs cannot be individually tailored
for all visitors.
There seems to be little optimism that the GVN will rapidly improve its own third-country information
programs.
3. China
China will probably step up its diplomatic activity around the world and
continue its support of insurgent groups in Thailand, Burma, India and
elsewhere. At home, China is still in the throes of the cultural
revolution’s repercussions.
USIS Hong Kong’s China Reporting
Program calls attention to China’s problems in every sphere about which
we have reliable information. USIS
Hong Kong will attempt to develop special materials on China to meet
posts’ special requests.
Hong Kong would like posts’ usage reports of China material, especially
radio tapes and press packets. Posts’ suggestions for articles in World Today7 and for books to be translated into Chinese would
be appreciated.
The question was raised whether USIS is
necessarily helping to develop a sense of loyalty among overseas Chinese
to the Southeast Asian countries where they live by placing
Chinese-oriented material in World Today. IAF plans to pursue this question.
VII. Other Items of Special Importance
1. Personnel
By the end of the summer, there will be another FSIO list which will include lateral entries. Some
officers, upon entry as FSIOs, may have to pay into the Foreign Service
Retirement Fund for any time they were uncovered, or where their
contribution under different systems was not equivalent to the FS one. There is no requirement to pay for
service credited while in the military. Whether it will be to an
officer’s advantage to pay for uncovered years will depend on each
individual case.
Regarding the new Evaluation Reports, it was emphasized that no rating
form could replace an officer’s frequent discussions with his
subordinates on the work they were doing.
The Phase II Program was explained. The program is designed to bring
junior officers back to the US at an
earlier, critical stage in their career for three years, to update
personnel in their own culture, prepare them for later assignments in
the Agency and provide additional area
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and language training. A course in communications
is being developed and will be included in Phase II.
Some PAOs expressed concern that the Agency had become so dependent on
JOTs for its new talent and that, because of BALPA,8 lateral entries from
outside the Agency had been suspended. It was explained that this
suspension was only temporary. Some PAOs also did not think that the
resignation rate of 200 out of a total of 600 JOTs (since the program’s
inception) spoke very well for the JOT
program.
2. Foreign National Employee Training
The function of the new Regional Local Employee Training Officer was
explained. He is available to posts to: 1) help explain the role of
USIA in each country; 2) update
employees’ knowledge of current developments on the US scene; 3) organize (or arrange for
others to provide) training programs in the area for key local
personnel. The Regional Training Officer, Charles Vetter, would spend up
to three weeks in a country and would be prepared to visit branch posts
as well.
3. Research
There was strong opinion favoring restoration of the recently BALPA’d Regional Research Officer. The
general outlook for research in the Agency appears promising, but it
would take time to recruit good people. Emphasis on research should
shift from “interesting” surveys to partly qualitative studies with
program implications. PAOs agreed that they needed more research on
programs and related products. The most effective research for USIA should not only tell us where we
have been but also indicate future directions for USIS programming decisions.
4. Horizons and Dialogue
PAOs were generally satisfied with both publications as is. More
sophisticated articles on national and regional development might be
printed in separate pamphlets for limited, more targeted distribution.
Horizons was praised highly by many PAOs.
However, the magazine has less appeal in the more sophisticated
countries, such as Japan. It was suggested that Dialogue9 should be directed at
sophisticated audiences in a country, Horizons at
more middle-brow readers. While Dialogue will
occasionally contain articles relating to national development, it will
continue to concentrate on American culture.
