A/MS files,
lot 54 D 291, “Jackson
Committee Report”
Memorandum by Walter A. Radius and Howland H.
Sargeant to the Director of the Policy Planning Staff
(Bowie)1
top secret
[Washington,] July 16, 1953.
- Subject:
- Proposed NSC Directive to the USIA
The attached proposed NSC Directive to the
United States Information Agency is submitted to you as a suggested paper
which would resolve some of the organizational problems arising out of the
status of the USIA as reporting to the
NSC and also tie together some of the
loose ends concerning relationships between the USIA and the proposed Operations Coordinating Board, the CIA and State. This paper could also be a focus
for discussion of some of the Jackson Committee recommendations, since it includes a
statement of the mission of the USIA as
derived from the Jackson
Committee Report.2
This paper does not purport to be the State Department’s position on the
points it covers, but rather presents the framework for developing those
positions.
[Page 1724]
We would suggest that this paper be referred for substantive comment to the
P area principally for the statement of
the USIA mission, to G for USIA–State–CIA relations with respect to covert operations
and to R for the intelligence backstopping. You may feel that other areas
would also be concerned.
[Attachment]
Paper Prepared in the Department of State3
top secret
[Washington], July 15, 1953.
Proposed National Security Council
Directive to the United States Information Agency
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 101 of the National Security Act of
1947 (Public Law 253) and the provisions of Reorganization Plan No. 8 of
1953,4 the National Security
Council hereby authorizes and directs that:
- 1)
- The primary purpose of the United States Information Agency in
carrying out the functions now or hereafter assigned to it shall
be to persuade foreign peoples that it lies in their own
interest to take actions which are also consistent with the
national objectives of the United States. The goal should be to
harmonize wherever possible the personal and national
self-interest of foreigners with the national objectives of the
United States. This will require that the United States find out
what other peoples want, relate their wants to those of this
country, and explain these common goals in ways that will cause
others to join with the United States in their
achievement.
- 2)
- In carrying out the functions transferred to the United States
Information Agency by Section 2 of Reorganization Plan No. 8 of
1953, and such other functions as may be assigned to the United
States Information Agency, it is essential that the USIA develop detailed operational
plans to carry out approved policies in appropriate coordination
with the development of plans by other agencies having related
responsibilities in respect of such approved policies. The
United States Information Agency shall look to the Operations
Coordinating Board to receive its assignment of detailed
[Page 1725]
planning
responsibilities where several agencies have functions in
carrying out an approved national security policy.
- 3)
- The Director of the United States Information Agency shall act
as an adviser to the Operations Coordinating Board. The Chairman
of the Operations Coordinating Board should invite him to attend
those meetings of the Board at which the subjects under
discussion relate to his function.
- 4)
- The Director of the United States Information Agency in his
relationships with other agencies will be guided by the
Reorganization Plan No. 8, the President’s Message to Congress
of June 1, 1953, the President’s letter to heads of agencies of
June 1, 1953,5 and
related Executive Orders.
- 5)
- Appropriate arrangements shall be made as promptly as possible
to carry out the instructions of the President that “the
Secretary of State has an obligation to develop means of
providing foreign policy guidance fully and promptly … the
United States Information Agency must seek such guidance and
establish appropriate means of assuring that its programs at all
times conform to such foreign policy guidance”. The USIA information guidances
directed to its staff in the field and in the United States
shall rely upon and conform to such foreign policy guidances as
furnished by the Secretary of State.
- 6)
- To assure coordination of unattributed propaganda, the United
States Information Agency shall adhere rigorously to the
principles agreed to by all United States information agencies
under date of November 1, 1951. Since coordination of
unattributed propaganda is vital, and as a general rule it is in
the interests of the United States that a much greater
percentage of the information program should be unattributed,
appropriate arrangements shall be made to place the
responsibility for the coordination of unattributed propaganda
on the Chief of the United States diplomatic mission in each
country.
- 7)
- Covert propaganda operations shall be centralized in the
Central Intelligence Agency. …
- 8)
- The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the
Secretary of State shall make arrangements with the Director of
the United States Information Agency to provide the special
intelligence requested by the United States Information
Agency.
- 9)
- The Operations Coordinating Board will take immediate steps to
determine the classified information essential to the
performance of the mission of the United States Information
Agency and will recommend to the National Security Council, as
necessary, the
[Page 1726]
authorization of distribution to the United States Information
Agency of such classified information.
- 10)
- The United States Information Agency shall be responsible for
providing the services and facilities necessary for the
preparation, translation, transmission and distribution of
materials for the program assigned as the exclusive
responsibility of the Secretary of State and designed to assure
accurate statements of United States official positions on
important issues and current developments.
- 11)
- The Director of the United States Information Agency shall
report to and receive instructions from the President through
the Operations Coordinating Board, except in those instances in
which the Operations Coordinating Board shall recommend that the
National Security Council provide the mechanism or except as the
President may otherwise determine.
