USIA files, lot 56 D 581, “Europe, Field Replies in re Info Guide 303”
Operations Memorandum by the Public Affairs Officer in the Consulate at Sydney (Evans) to the Department of State
- Subject:
- IIA: ICS—Removal of Books, et cetera, from circulation
- Ref: Department’s Circular 1041, April 17, 1953, 6 p.m.1
The Consulate General wishes to report that all books requested to be withdrawn from the USIS Sydney collection because their contents or authors were following the Communist Party line were withdrawn as guidance was received.
None of the authors or titles criticized and so labeled in the current Senate inquiry was included in the Sydney USIS library collection, hence no new withdrawals were necessary.
Earlier in the year, following the Department’s directives, the librarian withdrew two novels by Howard Fast, The American and Patrick Henry and the Frigate’s Keel; a volume by H.A. Overstreet entitled The Mature Mind; and a biography of Paul Robeson, Paul Robeson, Citizen of the World, by Shirley Graham.
All catalog cards and shelf list cards were withdrawn and destroyed. The books were destroyed by burning.
- Not printed; it further elaborated on Infoguide Bulletin 303 (p. 1686), and reads as follows: “Department needs interim report action taken to comply with Infoguide 303. Report airpouch soonest books by author and title and periodicals, single issues or entire files, removed from circulation. What disposition made of these items. Wireless File, FS section, has carried names persons who invoked 5th amendment in recent testimony before Congressional committees. What books by these persons are in USIS library. Posts which have provided Department with above information need not repeat.” The circular was telegraphed to 18 posts and pouched to 66 others. (511.0021/4–1753)↩