No. 605
Barrett files, lot 52D432
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State for
Public Affairs (Barrett) to the Deputy Under Secretary of State
(Matthews)1
secret
[Washington,] January 25,
1951.
Subject: Radio Free Europe
For a number of evident reasons, it is important that the topmost
officers of the Department receive a broad fill-in on the subject of
Radio Free Europe—so that they will know how much cooperation to
give. With the concurrence of the other agency, I propose that
either you or I cover the points in the attached memorandum in an
oral report at an Under Secretary’s Meeting, cautioning all
concerned to hold the information tight.
I suggest you give me a buzz after you have read this.2
[Page 1207]
[Attachment]
secret
[Washington,] January 24,
1951.
Radio Free Europe
- 1.
- I would like to make a brief report on Radio Free Europe
so that the key officers in the Department will be aware of
the organization and its relation to the Department.
- 2.
- Radio Free Europe is a division of the National Committee
for a Free Europe. As such, it operates the Committee’s
newsgathering, programming and broadcasting facilities. One
short wave 7 1/2 kw station is now in operation in Germany
and a medium wave 135 kw transmitter will be in service
there by April 1, 1951. Two additional 10 kw short wave
transmitters will be completed by May 1, 1951.
- 3.
- As additional broadcasting facilities are completed in
Western Germany, Radio Free Europe is taking steps to
provide personnel, both indigenous and from the United
States, to do their newsgathering, editing and programming
in Europe rather than in this country. This step will place
the program offices nearer the satellite areas, thus
expediting the transmission of spot news of interest to
these areas. It will also provide ready access to newly
arrived exiles and defectors with up-to-date
information.
- 4.
-
RFE now broadcasts to five
satellite countries: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary,
Poland and Rumania. The programs include news items,
features, and political reports from exiles. They are
written and voiced by the nationals of the target countries.
As a nongovernment operation, they can and do use exile
spokesmen.
- 5.
- The Department was fully informed of the organization of
NCFE and of the
informal support and cooperation being provided by the
United States Government. In June 1949 the Acting Secretary
sent a circular airgram to most of our European embassies
and legations3
stating that although the Department had no active concern
with the Committee’s activities, it had given its unofficial
approval to the Committee’s objectives. It was further
pointed out that because of the implicitly political nature
of the Committee’s work, there would be continuing
coordination between it and the Department, and that the
Committee would cooperate in every way to the accomplishment
of our objectives in Eastern Europe and of the general aims
of our foreign policy.
- 6.
- At a press conference on June 29 [23?], 1949, Secretary Acheson stated in response to a question
that the Department was very
[Page 1208]
happy to see the formation of this
group and welcomed its entrance into this field, giving the
Department’s hearty endorsement.
- 7.
- While it is inevitable that some people must know the full
background of the Committee, this number should be kept to
the absolute minimum as one of its principal advantages will
be lost if the general public, particularly in Europe, has
grounds for belief that RFE
has any official or semi-official connection with the United
States Government. While it is true that RFE personnel in Germany have
been granted Post Exchange and Commissary privileges and the
right to use requisitioned billets and offices, it should be
borne in mind that this same logistic support has also been
arranged for other private organizations such as CARE, the American Express
Company, and numerous newspaper and radio correspondents.
Every precaution should be taken by Department officers to
keep overt contacts with RFE
officers at a minimum and such cooperation as is necessary
and desirable should be carried on in the most discreet
manner possible.
- 8.
-
C.D. Jackson, publisher of Fortune has recently agreed to serve
as President of the National Committee for Free Europe. He
will replace Dewitt Poole who will remain as Vice-Chairman
of the Board. I believe that Mr.
Jackson, as an experienced
propaganda warfare expert, will give the Committee and
RFE the leadership and
drive which has been needed.
