192. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Streibert) to the President 1
I have been discussing with Secretary Dulles and Nelson Rockefeller whether the time has not come for a bold dramatic step to very substantially increase what we are doing in the whole area of overseas information and contacts—the exchange of ideas and people.
The whole level of this activity has been too low, when you consider that it holds within it the potential to destroy the opposition’s will to carry out his doctrine of world revolution.
At Geneva a beachhead was established in this area …2 with general agreement on the need for a “freer flow of ideas and people.” This presents us with an opportunity to assume the initiative, and press for a breakthrough.
We have in mind an important Presidential speech or message to come immediately after the Foreign Ministers’ Geneva meeting, where agreement and progress on this agenda item are virtually certain. The speech would underscore U.S. sincerity by calling for a greatly expanded effort, both governmental and private, to create worldwide understanding of U.S. aims and help build the climate for enduring peace.
This new “Program for World Understanding” should at least double what the Government is now doing. The present level is [Page 557] roughly $163 million: made up of Exchange of Persons in State, $18 million; Exchange of technical personnel in ICA, $55 million; The President’s Fund for trade fair exhibits and cultural presentations, $5 million; and USIA, $85 million.
The new level recommended by the President would be in the neighborhood of $325 million: with at least $100 million for all exchange of persons programs; $210 million for USIA; and $15 million for the President’s Fund.
Together with a Presidential appeal to all individual Americans and groups to take part in the new Program, this action would ensure that everything possible is done to increase the flow abroad of people, ideas, books, magazines, newspapers, films, broadcasts, television, exhibits, cultural presentations, trade fair exhibitions, sports teams, technical groups, and delegations of all kinds … all designed to increase understanding, further ease tensions, and promote enduring peace.
The speech or message might include these points:
“An aircraft carrier of the Forrestal class costs over $200 million to construct. It is necessary. We must have it and other powerful ships and bombers for our defense. But $325 million for this post-Geneva work is equally important, particularly if it can bring us one step closer to genuine understanding between our people and the other peoples of the world.
“The Geneva meetings hold out hope in this regard. So also do the successful exchange of visits between the Russian and American farmers, the Atoms for Peace Scientific Conference, the U.S. Atoms for Peace exhibits throughout the World, Cinerama, ‘Porgy and Bess’, the ‘Symphony of the Air’ and all the exchanges of leaders, technical experts and students.
“We must have much more of all these things—because they will contribute to the climate in which a permanent peace will eventually become possible.”
Details of the new Program must be appealing and imaginative.
For instance:
“I am asking Nathan Pusey,3 or Grayson Kirk,4 to get together a group of educators to work with the State Department and USIA to produce booklets and films so that all Americans going overseas may be effective ‘ambassadors’ and do their part in this Program for World Understanding.”
“I am asking Henry Ford,5 or Paul Hoffman,6 and George Meany 7 to form a committee of distinguished citizens to secure the [Page 558] cooperation of American industry and labor and other private groups having contacts and resources overseas, so that all non-Government elements may be geared into the campaign.”
“I am requesting Lowell Thomas8 to produce a special Cinerama motion picture on Atoms for Peace. This film, it is envisaged, will be shown on the deck of a reconditioned aircraft carrier together with an Atoms for Peace exhibit, a live television demonstration, and other exhibits by American industry and labor. This Atoms for Peace ship to begin its tour of world ports next summer.”
“I am instructing USIA to undertake a special information campaign, as part of this Program, to make sure that the peoples of the world understand the new U.S. (UN) disarmament plan, particularly the vital inspection aspects preventing surprise attack.”
“I am also asking that the present program of information on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy be quadrupled in size, since this activity holds such great promise for promoting peace.”
“I shall be calling upon the leaders of the publishing industry to cooperate with us in finding ways and means to greatly expand the volume of U.S. books overseas at inexpensive prices.”
“I am asking Robert Dowling, President of ANTA, to see whether he can not undertake an expansion of that organization’s highly effective presentations overseas, including, in conjunction with Dr. Rudolph Bing,9 a foreign tour for the Metropolitan Opera.”
The effect would be a marshalling by the White House of resources and talent, both governmental and private, to do this vital job. The Presidential speech would be exceptionally timely. It would have great impact worldwide, as further positive proof of U.S. intentions at Geneva. The new Program is certain to win immediate press and public support. Opinion polls indicate this, as does editorial opinion. The following is from a N.Y. Times editorial of August 1:
“By their reception of the Soviet Farm Delegation, the American people have shown their enthusiasm for the widest possible exchange of persons and ideas.”
Reference to the President’s Program in this field would necessarily be included in the State of the Union message and the Budget message.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 511.003/9–455. Confidential.↩
- Ellipses throughout are in the source text.↩
- President of Harvard University.↩
- President of Columbia University.↩
- President of the Ford Motor Company.↩
- Chairman of the Board, Studebaker–Packer Corporation.↩
- President of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations.↩
- Radio and television commentator.↩
- General Manager of the New York Metropolitan Opera Association.↩
- Printed from a copy which bears this typed signature.↩