Office of the Historian

28. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, December 15, 1978

SUBJECT

  • Progress Report on Publishing and Distributing Literature to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

REFERENCES

  • A. My Memorandum of 13 March 78; Subject: Support for Russian Emigre Publishing House2
  • B. Your Memorandum of 18 March 78; Subject: Support for Russian and East European Book Publishing3

1. Paragraphs 2–5 below summarize the use of the [less than 1 line not declassified] earmarked specifically for an increase in book publishing and distribution to the USSR and Eastern Europe.

2. The [less than 1 line not declassified] funds were made available to our major book distribution mechanism in February 1978. While all the funds were obligated prior to 1 October 1978, the full impact on actual distribution cannot be measured accurately until well into FY 79, as some of the books purchased are still in the distribution pipeline. Since our operational mechanism was largely in place, it was possible to utilize [less than 1 line not declassified] directly for the purchase and distribution of books. Two preliminary indicators of the effectiveness of the effort are: (A) 212,000 items were distributed from 1 July 1977 to 30 June 1978 (115,000 to Soviets; 97,000 to Eastern Europeans) as compared with a total of 175,000 for the same period the previous year—an increase of 37,000 (21%); and (B) 122,000 items were distributed in the period 1 January–30 June 1978 as compared with 90,000 in the 1 July–31 December 1977 period—an increase of 32,000 (35%). [less than 1 line not declassified]

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3. Further to paragraphs 3–5 of Reference A, in the spring of 1978 we provided the first subsidy [less than 1 line not declassified] to a prominent Russian-language publishing house [less than 1 line not declassified]. With these funds it was possible for them both to keep in business and to plan the publication of approximately 12 titles of philosophical works much in demand in the Soviet Union. [less than 1 line not declassified]

4. Increased funding has allowed an increase in publication of Russian-language books to provide a wider choice of materials available for infiltration into the Soviet Union. Two major works have now appeared, and four additional titles are in the process of being published. Three or four more titles will appear by the end of the year, including the initial volume of what is to be a major historical series. At the same time, in order to exploit more fully increased political activism in Poland, eight additional titles are in various stages of publication in the Polish language. Five volumes have already appeared and have been distributed. The demand for written materials in Poland is high, [2 lines not declassified] which facilitates distribution. Russian and Polish editions of works of current importance in Western thought are now being given active consideration. [less than 1 line not declassified]

5. Although tighter controls exist in Czechoslovakia than in Poland (especially during the tenth anniversary of the invasion) many manuscripts have been smuggled out of Czechoslovakia. The additional funds were used to publish more of these materials in a Czech-language journal and to publish an additional issue of this journal. Part of the funds were also used in an effort to increase internal distribution. [less than 1 line not declassified]

6. [6 lines not declassified] that our literature is distributed widely in both East Europe and the USSR.

7. The preparation of this report was delayed because of the need to collate information received through a number of outside contacts—[1 line not declassified].

All portions of this document are SECRET.

Stansfield Turner
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Horn/Special, Box 3, Chron File: 12/78. Secret. Henze forwarded the memorandum to Brzezinski on December 18. In his covering memorandum, Henze wrote: “The results are impressive. They are typical of what can be done when long-established, professionally run programs are given the opportunity to expand and the best judgment of the people who are running them is taken as the basis of judgment for what can be done.” Regarding the future plans for the program in the coming years, Henze concluded: “By about 1981 it may be back at the level it was at 10–15 years ago. Its effectiveness is likely to be greater than it was then since the material available to be used is better and the receptivity in the target countries greater.”↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 20.↩
  3. Not found.↩