Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

Under Secretary’s Meetings: Lot 53 D 250: Documents

Paper Prepared in the Bureau of Public Affairs, Department of State ¹

secret

[ Washington ,] March 22, 1950.

UM D–87

Priorities for Research and Development, and Intelligence To Overcome Soviet Jamming

problem

To determine the means at our disposal to penetrate the Iron Curtains and counteract the effects of Soviet jamming of the Voice of America in order to expose the peoples of the Soviet Union and its Satellites to the maximum flow of information from the United States and the free world, and to provide:

a. Means whereby an appropriate priority will be provided for securing full intelligence and communications research and development necessary to overcome Soviet jamming.

b. Means for assuring the maximum coordination of all U.S. intelligence, research and development facilities in this field.

[Here follow sections entitled “Discussion” and “Conclusions” essentially identical with the same sections of the Report to the National Security Council by the Department of State, circulated as NSC 66, April 4, page 286.]

recommendations

It is recommended that—

In view of the problems raised by Soviet jamming of the Voice of America, the National Security Council review and advise regarding,

1. The physical means at our disposal to penetrate the “Iron Curtain” and expose the peoples of the Soviet Union and its Satellites to the maximum flow of information from the United States and the free world.

2. Measures which might induce or compel the USSR to discontinue its jamming of the VOA.

3. The effectiveness and the probable consequences of utilization of each of these means.

4. The priority necessary in the field of communications research and development to meet the above requirements.

5. The priority and the coordinating measures necessary to the full provision of intelligence, including technical communications intelligence, required by the VOA and other designated units required in the effort to place information behind the Iron Curtain.

1. This paper was circulated to the Under Secretary’s Meeting (see footnote 1, p. 266) under cover of a note by Executive Secretariat Director McWilliams which indicated that it had been prepared in the Bureau of Public Affairs for consideration by the Under Secretary’s Meeting prior to transmittal to the National Security Council, and that the problem had been discussed orally by Secretary of State Acheson with President Truman. For the record of the Under Secretary’s Meeting of March 24 at which the paper was discussed, see infra.