Office of the Historian

Under Secretary’s Meetings, Lot 53 D 250

Memorandum by Mr. James Q. Reber, Special Assistant in the Executive Secretariat

top secret
[Washington, undated.]

Under Secretary’s Meeting December 16, 19491

1. The Soviet “Peace” Offensive

(D–712) (Confidential)

Mr. Sargeant will substitute some other title for the phrase “Peace Offensive” and make such revisions as are necessary after taking into account the following suggestions:

(a)
Our proper propaganda should concentrate on the fact and strength of U.S. leadership rather than the particular systems which we have constructed such at NAT, MAP, ERP—any of which might not meet our expectations.
(b)
Remove the reference to the Greek issue (page 20) in order to not redirect Soviet attention to that area.
(c)
Contrast Russian words and Russian acts in the Far East and in other areas as a part of our counter-propaganda.
(d)
Point up the way in which the Soviet builds up its own sphere but operates against the well being of the extra-Russian areas, as a testimony to the falsity of Soviet propaganda.
(e)
Give more attention to the WFTU, which may be the focal point of a new cominform.

It was understood that this paper is for the guidance of the Public Affairs area in its overseas operation, and as such is not for distribution outside of the Department, such as to select congressmen or our public advisory committees. It was also understood that the propaganda line to be used in our counter-offensive will be tailored to meet the requirements of each geographic area.

Mr. Sargeant will give consideration to—

(a)
The preparation of a paper dealing with the U.S. domestic side of this problem.
(b)
The preparation of a paper designed not to meet this immediate Soviet offensive but to concentrate on the positive propaganda approach which would give the initiative to this Government.
(c)
A paper exploring the thesis that a valuable propaganda concept would be that all men are brothers under the Deity, withal different religious convictions, as against the Godless Soviet world.

Attention was turned to the dangers of a full scale Soviet “peace” offensive, which, if it began, would seriously jeopardize many of our programs to the extent that they are based on crisis. Emphasis was placed on the necessity that our basic policy framework must be durable on the grounds of human need despite, or in the absence of, crises.

[Here follows discussion of policy relating to defections from Soviet control.]

  1. The following officers of the Department of State attended this meeting: Deputy Under Secretary of State Dean Rusk (Acting Chairman); Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Howland H. Sargeant: Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Research and Intelligence William P. Armstrong, Jr.; Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs W. Walton Butterworth; Deputy Director for Mutual Defense Assistance John H. Ohly; Assistant Officer in Charge of German Economic Affairs Geoffrey W. Lewis; Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations Jack K. McFall; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations Ben H. Brown, Jr.; Assistant Secretary of State for United Nations Affairs John D. Hickerson; Deputy Director of the Policy Planning Staff Paul H. Nitze; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern, South Asian, and African Affairs Raymond H. Hare; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs Willard F. Barber; Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs George W. Perkins; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Administration Charles M. Hulten; Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Willard L. Thorp.↩
  2. Supra.↩