940.40/12–1851
Memorandum of Conversation, by Willard Allan of the Office of Eastern European Affairs1
Subject: RFE Baltic Language Broadcasts.
| Participants: | Mr. Povilas Zadeikis, The Lithuanian Minister |
| Mr. Johannes Kaiv, Acting Consul General of Estonia in New York City in Charge of Legation | |
| EE—Mr. Vedeler | |
| EE—Mr. Allan |
Minister Zadeikis and Mr. Kaiv spent two hours with the Department’s officers today, discussing the question of Radio Free Europe broadcasts in the Baltic languages. The visitors urged earnestly that plans for such broadcasts not be dropped, requesting the Department’s support for their position. They seemed unable to comprehend the desire of the Department and NCFE to leave the matter in abeyance for the present.
Minister Zadeikis and Mr. Kaiv advanced essentially the same arguments as those put forward last week by the Latvian Chargé d’Affaires2 and by Mr. Kaarel Pusta, Sr. (See memorandum dated December 13, 1951 from EE—Mr. Vedeler, Subject: Question of RFE Baltic Language Broadcasts.3)
The Department’s officers assured the visitors repeatedly that no political significance was to be attached to the American decision regarding the proposed broadcasts. It was stressed that the present attitude toward such broadcasts was based on the desire to produce the most effective broadcasts in the Baltic languages by concentrating professional efforts in a single organization.
The Department’s officers explained that the unique relationship between the Baltic States and the United States enabled this government officially to take a much stronger line in its broadcasts than it could take in broadcasts to countries in which we maintain officially accredited missions. Thus the VOA might be able to broadcast substantially the same material as that which might be transmitted by RFE. It therefore seemed logical, in an effort to utilize [Page 1313] the United States foreign broadcasting potential in as efficient a manner as possible, to try a division of labor in the case of the Baltic States, with VOA handling the matter, at least temporarily. It was pointed out that certain technical considerations which supported other RFE broadcasts—for instance, the possibility of locating powerful RFE medium wave facilities near the border of Czechoslovakia—were not present in the case of the Baltic States. Mention was also made of the anticipated extension of VOA coverage to be achieved through the inauguration on February 16 of the first of the Baltic language European broadcasts originating in Munich, of the limited amount of current intelligence material available on conditions in the Baltic States, and of the large monetary cost of radio transmissions. It was emphasized also that VOA sincerely is anxious to produce the best program possible, and that both VOA and the Department would continue to welcome comments, criticisms and suggestions concerning the Baltic broadcasts, from the visitors, the Baltic Consultative Panels and from others. The Department’s officers stated that they understood that the decision not to proceed with RFE Baltic language broadcasts at this time was not solely a Department decision but that it was one with which NCFE and RFE concurred.
The Department’s visitors did not consider this line of reasoning valid. They found it especially difficult to believe that RFE and NCFE agreed with the Department in this matter. They believed that the Department, upon the insistence of VOA, was cancelling the broadcasts against the opposition of RFE. The visitors offered, in support of their contention, the following arguments:
One of the chief inducements for cooperating with the National Committee for a Free Europe had been the promise that RFE would broadcast to the countries of Eastern Europe. Minister Zadeikis stated that prior to approving of the affiliation of Lithuanian émigré leaders with the NCFE through the establishment of a Lithuanian Consultative Panel he had received assurances in correspondence from Mr. Poole that the Baltic States, if they were associated with NCFE, would receive consideration equal to that afforded other Eastern European countries, including, of course, equal treatment in the question of RFE broadcasts.
The visitors have been told specifically by members of the Baltic Consultative Panels that RFE broadcasts are being held up solely by the Department. RFE has hired persons to act as chiefs of the Baltic broadcasting units. Such persons are still receiving salaries and have not been told that their work will be terminated. Baltic refugees who have applied for positions in the RFE Baltic Radio Units, and who have discussed their applications with RFE, have not been told that Baltic Language broadcasts are being dropped but have been led to believe that their applications are under active consideration.
[Page 1314]The visitors felt strongly that abandonment of Baltic language broadcasts by RFE would be misunderstood both here and abroad and emphasized that such a move might be interpreted widely as a change in the position of the United States vis-à-vis the Baltic States. They pointed out that the RFE Baltic language broadcasts project has been known and widely discussed among refugee groups here and abroad, and they claimed that already there were signs of a possible change in attitude toward Baltic refugees by refugees of other Eastern European countries because of what the latter considered an apparent decrease in United States support for the Baltic States.
Mr. Kaiv mentioned that about a month ago an Estonian newspaper published in Germany had printed an article calling the attention of its readers to alleged forthcoming RFE broadcasts in the Estonian language, and that it would be difficult for this newspaper to understand or to explain the present change in plans.
Mr. Kaiv said that many refugees might consider it more than a coincidence that the decision to cancel RFE Baltic language broadcasts apparently occurred at the same time that the National Committee for a Free Europe was slighting the Baltic States in connection with a forthcoming refugee conference in Europe. Mr. Kaiv said that the NCFE was paying the traveling expenses to the meeting of a number of refugees in the United States. For instance, he said, two Bulgarians were being sent, and two Hungarians. In the case of the Baltic States, however, only one delegate was being sent to represent all three states. Mr. Kaiv averred that many Baits resent this apparent diminution of the importance of the Baltic States …4 The Department’s officers said that they were not informed on the plans of NCFE to which reference was made; they assured the visitors, however, that there was no connection between NCFE conference arrangements and the Department’s support for the plan to hold RFE Baltic language broadcasts in abeyance.
After repeated efforts to make clear the force of the considerations moving the Department, Mr. Vedeler suggested, in conclusion, that Minister Zadeikis and Mr. Kaiv might wish, after discussing the matter with the VOA and NCFE, to submit memoranda detailing their positions. Mr. Vedeler promised that such memoranda would receive careful and sympathetic consideration.
[Page 1315]Minister Zadeikis and Mr. Kaiv indicated that they would prepare such aide-mémoire. They left the Department as they had entered, apparently convinced that the Department is permitting the Baltic States to be slighted because of jurisdictional considerations in the broadcasting field or that the Department is weakening in its political support for the Baltic States.