Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume V

811.42700 (R)/1–349: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the Soviet Union

confidential

Washington, March 5, 1949.

A–51. Embassy’s A–1105, Nov 1, 1948¹ and A–1, Jan 3, 1949,² recommended specific refutation by VOA Russian broadcasts of demonstrably false Soviet propaganda statements regarding US.

Department cannot concur in Embassy proposal that refutations be issued in form of answers to falsehood, with direct reference to charge, source, date, etc. This device not only gives additional currency and prominence to falsehood, but would play into hands of Soviet propagandists, whose objectives in misrepresenting conditions in US are not only to twist truth but also to lure US media into devoting large portion of their time and space to defensive refutations. This would in essence give the Soviets a major control over our output merely by increasing the number and extending scope of charges. These considerations are valid for output generally, but particularly for Soviets, since VOA and Amerika are our only means of presenting the US story.

However, Department concurs in desirability of disseminating with least possible delay in each instance material selected specifically to correct distortions, misrepresentations, etc., in Soviet and other propaganda, and media have attempted to do this. Pursuant to your recommendation, Department is starting more systematic countering of falsities and adverse propaganda by finding peg for facts highlighting error and by collecting items of misrepresentation, ascertaining their underlying pattern, and periodically refuting the types of false information by brief programs over VOA or appropriate material in Amerika, or both, choice depending upon suitability of material to media. No mention will be made of any specific Soviet statements or sources, or even that a certain topic has been receiving treatment in Soviet informational organs.

It is believed Soviet misrepresentations result from deliberate policy and follow a carefully devised pattern. Procedure indicated above is considered most effective means of refutation and of discrediting in general the veracity of all information furnished by the Soviet Government to its people. Material will be issued under some such label as “Setting the Record Straight” or “The truth about America”, but with no more explicit indication of its design to counter propaganda.

Embassy’s cooperation will be appreciated in reporting promptly any erroneous statements in Soviet media.

Acheson

1. Not printed, but see telegram 1366 from Moscow on July 20 and telegram 2547 from Moscow on November 4, Foreign Relations, 1948, vol. iv, pp. 902 and 930.
2. Not printed.