NSC^Ite£istry  (Permanent  File) 
EXECUTIVE  OFFICE  OF  THE  PRESIDENT 
NATIONAL  SECURITY  COUNCIL 
WASHINGTON 
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MEMORANDUM  FOR  ALL  HOLDERS  OP  NSC  h 
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Pursuant  to  a  request  from  the  Department 
of  the  Army  and.  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Department  of 
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Stats >  the  classification  or  NSC  *ff  "coordination  or  roreisn 
Information  Measures,"  is  hereby  downgraded  from 
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"Confidential"  to  "Restricted. " 
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JAMES  S.  LAY,  Jr. 
Executive  Secretary 
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HATIONAL  SECURITY  COUNCIL
NSC  4 
December  9,  1947 
NOTE  BY;  THE.  EXECUTIVE  SECRETARY 
to  the 
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NATIONAL" SECURITY  COUNCIL 
■   ■■*:    .t*    .- 
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COORDINATION -OF -FOREIGN   INFORMATION  MEASURES 
REFERENCES  a:      SANA CC  304/11 
",'z  ■  '■■  "■ :  -  rszzj.b :      NSC  Action  No.    11 
i.»  •« 
At  its  second  meeting  the  National  Security  Council  re 
ferred  SANACC  304/11  to  the  National  Security  Council  Staff 
for  revision  in  the  light  of  the  comments  at  the  meeting. 
The  enclosed  report  has  been  prepared  pursuant  to  that  di- 
rective, after  consultation  with  representatives  of  the 
Departments  of  State,  the  Army,  the  Navy  and  the  Air  Force, 
and  of  *  the  Central  Intelligence  Agency. 
It  Is  recommended 
. that  the  National  Security  Council 
approve  the  enclosed  report  and  authorise  Its  submission  to 
the  President,  with  the  recommendation  that  he  approve  the 
"Conclusions"  contained  therein  and  direct  that  they  be 
Implemented  by  all  appropriate  executive  departments  and 
agencies  of  the  U.  S,  Government  under  the  coordination  of 
the  Secretary  of  State. i:-  v.. 
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SIDNEY  W.  SOUERS 
Executive  Secretary 
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Distribution: 
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'the  Secretary  of  State 
The  Secretary  of  Defense 
•  The  Secretary  of  the  Army 
The  Secretary  of  the  Navy 
The  Secretary  of  the  Air  Force 
The  Chairman,  National  Security 
Resources  Board 
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A  REPORT 
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SECURITY  COUNCIL 
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by 
THE  EXECUTIVE  SECRETARY 
on 
COORDINATION  OF  FOREIGN  INFORMATION  MEASURES 
■.%■•■ 
Decanber  9,  1947 
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WASHINGTON 
DECLASSIFIED '  --__ 
By:    
HATIOSAL  SSCURIT'/  COITICIL 
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December  9,    19hJ 
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REPORT  BY  THE  NATIONAL  SECURITY  COUNCIL 
on 
COORDINATION  OP  FOREIGN  INFORMATION  MEASURES 
*  •  .  1 
..: -;THE  PROBLEM 
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1.   To  determine  what. steps  are  required  to  strengthen 
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and  coordinate  all  foreign  information  measures  of  the  U.  S, 
Government  in  furtherance  of  the  attainment  of  US  national  ob- 
jectives . 
•«•  *-* ....' 
_  -r        j. 
«•  *» » #. 
**V 
ANALYSIS 
2-   .The  USSR  is  conducting  an  Intensive  propaganda  cam- 
paign directed  primarily  against  the   US  and  is  employing  co- 
ordinated  psychological,  political  and  economic  measures -de- 
* 
signed  to  undermine  non-Communist  elements  in  all  countries. 
rrt The   ultimate  objective  of  this  campaign  is  not  merely  to 
»  * 
undermine  the  prestige  of :  the  US  and  the  effectiveness  of  its 
■■  ■  *  • 
national  policy  but  to?weaken  and  divide  world  opinion  to  a  . 
■-  ■  
■/■ 
•  "  'it 
point  where  effective  opposition  to  Soviet  designs  Is  no 
longer  attainable  by  political,  economic,,. or  military  means . 
In  conducting  this  campaign,  the  USSR  is  utilizing  all  measures 
available  to  it  through  satellite  regimes,  Communist  parties, 
and  organizations  susceptible  to  Communist  influence. 
3.   The  US  is  not  now  employing  strong,  coordinated  in- 
formation measures  to  counter  this  propaganda  campaign  or  to 
■•'."Jt-i':-'- :-' 
further  the  attainment  of  its  national  objectives.  The  e*- 
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tension  of  economic  aid  to  certain  foreign  countries,  particu- 
larly in  Europe ,   is  one  of  the  principal  means  by  which  the 
US  has  undertaken  to  defend  its  vital  interests.  The  nature 
and  intent -of  ..this  aid- and  other  US  contributions  to  world  ■.:*•• 
peace  is  unknown  to  or. misunderstood  by  large  segments  of  the 
■;■•'"•■  -  '•:■•      •         -       - 
world* s 'population.   Inadequate  employment  of  information 
•  
'■ '  *.  
* 
measures  is  impairing  the  effectiveness  of  these  undertakings. 
*t.   None  of  the  existing  departments  or  agencies  of  the 
m 
US  Government  is  now  charged  with  responsibility  for  coordina- 
ting, foreign -information -measures,  in  furtherance  of  the  attain- 
ment  of  US  national  objectives . .  Upon  the  Department  of  State 
devolves  £he  nrinciDal  responsibility,  under  the  President,  for 
the  formulation  and  execution  of  American  foreign  policy  and 
the  conduct  of  American  foreign  relations. 
5.  Facilities'  now  existing  in  the  Departments  of  State, 
*   * 
the  Army,  the  Wavy  and  the  Air  Force  in  the  field  of  foreign  . 
information  or  which  can  be  utilized  in  this  field  are  listed 
in  the  Appendix  hereto.  '/■' 
:  CONCLUSIONS 
^    -  ...  .   - 
6.  The  present  worl :  situation  requires  the  immediate 
. 
strengthening  and  coordination  of  all  foreign  information 
measures  of  the  US  Government  designed  to  influence  attitudes 
in  foreign  countries  in  a  direction  favorable  to  the  attainment 
of  its  objectives  and  to  counteract  effects  of  anti-US  propa- 
ganda. 
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7.  It  is  considered  that  the  Initial  steps  to  implement 
paragraph  6  above  should  be  designed  to  provide  closer  coordi- 
nation  of  policies ,   more  effective  Integration  of  existing 
facilities,  and  intensification  of  foreign  information  measures. 
8.  a.   The  Secretary  of  State  should  be  charged  with 
» **  *%  •*%  v.  •    ... 
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formulating  policies  for  and  coordinating  the  implementation 
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of  all  Information,  measures  designed  to  influence  attitudes 
'■^•■1 
in  foreign  countries  in  a  direction  favorable  to  the  attain- 
ment  of  US  objectives  and  to  counteract  effects  of  anti-US 
propaganda.   It  is  assumed  that  these  functions  will  be 
«-;■"*,/.*•-  t 
•  •  .-*-%•  '-*  ■       « 
exercised  by  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  for  Public 
Affairs ,   hereinafter  referred  to  as  the  Assistant  Secre- 
tary.  The  Assistant  Secretary  should  consult  with  an  in- 
formal  group  composed  of  representatives  of  other  appropri 
ate  departments  and  agencies. 
b.   Appropriate  departments  and  agencies  should  be 
"'/* 
directed  to  insure  the  most  effective  coordination  and 
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utilization  of  their  appropriate  facilities  for  the  Imple- 
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mentation  of  approved  foreign  information  policies. 
■.I*.   .      ......  ,_ 
<c#   The  Assistant  Secretary  should  be  assisted  by  a 
staff  including  qualified  full-time  personnel  detailed 
from  each  appropriate  department  or  agency.  This  staff 
should  assist  the  Assistant  Secretary  in  implementing  the 
policies  and  plans  established  by  the  Secretary  of  State 
by: 
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(l)   Obtaining  the  most  effective  utilization  • 
and  coordination  of  all  federal  foreign  information 
facilities; 
™~  ...  (2) ---Initiating  and  developing  for  the  approval 
*  j       — 
\  -A. 
of  the  Assistant  Secretary  specific  plans  and  pro- 
grams  designed  to  influence  foreign  opinion  in  a 
direction  favorable  to  US  interests  and  to  counteract 
effects  of  Anti -US' propaganda.    / 
9,  As  a  matter  of  priority,  the  Assistant  Secretary 
should  coordinate  the  determination  of  the  requirement  for 
funds  necessary  to  insure  performance  of  the  functions  assign- 
cu  in  paragraph  8  above .      ' 
«.  ■  
- 
10.  The  Assistant  Secretary  should  be  furnished  by  the 
* 
Central  Intelligence  Agency  vith  appropriate  coordinated  foreign 
intelligence. 
.  i-»   ■     *■ 
11/  The  Assistant  Secretary  should  be  furnished  by  the 
1' 
appropriate  departments  vith*  classified  information  necessary 
for  the  fulfillment  of  his  responsibilities. 
12.   In  carrying  out  the  functions  assigned  in  paragraph" 
8  above,  the  Assistant  Secretary  should  maintain  the  closest 
possible  liaison  with  the  State -Army -Navy-Air  Force  Coordinating 
* 
Committee. 
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**«»»«*  "1
APPENDIX 
EXISTING  FACILITIES  IN  THE  FIELD  OF  FOREIGN  INFORMATION  IN  THE 
DEPARTMENTS  OF  STATS,  THE  ARMY,  THE  NAVY,  AND  THE  AIR  FORCE 
1.  .  Department  of  State:   . 
a.  Under  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  State  for  Public 
Affairs,  the  Office  of  International  Information  and  Educa- 
tional Exchange  coordinates  and  operates  short  wave  broad- 
casting,  a  daily "wireless  bulletin,  documentary  films,  in- 
*  formation  libraries  and  exchange  programs  in  foreign  coun- 
tries. * 
b.  Public  Affairs  Officers  and  Information  Officers  - 
in  US  Missions  and  Consulates. 
/■*  T~\    .  .  x.    -  .   »-    .  f»   «.'. 
a .    i^ep&i'urneno  Ox  urie  ^rmy_i 
a.  The  Chief  of  Information  under  the  Deputy  Chief 
of  Staff  coordinates  and  operates  a  Public  Information  Di- 
vision and  a  Troop  Information  and  Education  Division.  The 
* 
* 
Armed  Services1  Radio  Service,  under  the  latter,  is  carried 
on  by  the  Army  for  the  Array,  Navy  and  Air  Force. 
b.  Civil  Affairs  Division.  -Under  this  Division  the 
Reorientation  Branch  prepares  plans,  policies  and  directives 
to  bring  about  the  reorientation  and  reeducation  of  peoples 
of  Occupied  Areas,  In  many  ways  these  activities  of  the 
Army  parallel  in  Occupied  Areas  the  activities  of  the  State 
Department's  Office  of  International  Information  and  Educa- 
tional Exchange.  The  Reorientation  Branch  maintains  a 
pt  -*»«*» 
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Field  Office  in  New  York  City. 
3.   Department  of  the  Navy: 
a,.   The  Division  of  Public  Information,  under  the 
executive  office  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  has  under 
it  the  Office  of  Public  Relations. 
-?*'■ 
b..   (See  2 -a  above.) 
'■•••  »•'  •  ••  •  ■.■  ..  ■  ■  .*>.  / 
^.  "  Department  of  the  Air  Force; 
a.   Troop  Information  and  Education  Division  under 
*  .  * 
■  ^  *  *  t 
the  :Deputy  Chief  of  Air  Staff  for  Personnel  and  Adminis- 
* 
tration.       .       :.  • 
b.   (See  2-a  above.) 
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APPENDIX 
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