Office of the Historian

126. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Clark) to President Reagan1

Washington, January 7, 1982

SUBJECT

  • World Peace Council

On several occasions your attention has been called to the agenda for 1981 of the so-called “World Peace Council,” a Soviet front organization operating out of Helsinki. (C)

This group seems so pleased with its success that it now plans to expand its activities into the United States. A reliable intelligence source,2 with close connections to the international “peace” movement, reports as follows:

“Soviet officials have informed World Peace Council President Romesh Chandra that the Soviets have ‛big plans’ for WPC activities in the U.S. in the 1982–1983 period. The Soviets are elated by the ease with which the WPC has been able to hold events in the U.S. and plans to take full advantage of this in the future. They have made it clear to the WPC that they will not stint on providing funds for U.S.-based activities and that Soviet funds will be forthcoming for whatever proposals of this kind the WPC develops.” (S)

[Page 407]

Given the great experience of the World Peace Council in organizing mass demonstrations on behalf of Soviet causes, it would be very important to prevent it from carrying out its plans in the United States. The Department of State in particular should refuse to issue visas to foreign travelers planning to attend World Peace Council functions in this country, which are usually international in scope. (S)

RECOMMENDATION

That instructions be given to the Department of State to refuse visas to foreign visitors connected with the World Peace Council or individuals planning to attend WPC functions.3 (C)

  1. Source: Reagan Library, Pipes Files, CHRON 01/08/1982–01/25/1982. Secret. Sent for action. A stamped notation at the top of the memorandum reads: “The President has seen 1/7/82.”↩
  2. Not further identified.↩
  3. The President checked his approval, and initialed the memorandum.↩