Evening star., 1945-08-31
Truman Orders
Of
.0W|byDec.31
Foreign Activities to
Be Taken Over by
State Department
BY ]. A. FOX.

lSned the ONCE of War Infor-
nation.
In an executive order the Chief
Executive discontinued the domes-
tic functions of the owl, effective
September Is, and transferred i'm
mediately to the State Department
the foreign activities of the agency.
The latter activities will be wound
up December 81 under the order
On that date also the entire owl
goes out of existence, the interven-
ing period from September IS be-
ing allowed for complete liquidation
Meantime, the President said in a
statement, he has asked the Secre-
tary OF State to study our foreign
international needs and to formu-
late during the remainder of this
calendar year the program which
he considers should be conducted on
a continuing basis"
In announcing the abolition of
Owl, Mr.. Truman praised the Or
gan1zation, declaring that it had
made an outstanding contribution
to victory" under the leadership OF
Elmer Davis.
Work of Agency Hailed.
The President said military COM
manders have hailed its psychologi.
cal warfare work "as a powerful
weapon against the enemy" and
that other overseas activities "aided
our whole effort in the foreign
field"
On the domestic side, the Presi-
dent said, "OWI has performed an
invaluable service in co-ordinating
the Government wartime informa-
tlon and in utilizing the generous
contribution OF private press, radio,
motion pictures, advertising and
other facilities to inform the Ameri-
can people about their Govern
ments wartime programs"
The Owl is the third wartime
agency whose liquidation has been
ordered by the President
First to go was the Office Of
Civilian Defense and next the Of
nee of Censorship.
Interim Service Created.
In centering foreign information
facllltles in the State Department,
the Presidents order set up an. In
terim International Information
Service" In addition to the foreign
operations of owl, this interim or
ganization also will take on over
seas duties performed by the ONCE
OF 1nter-American Affairs.
The scope of this information
work is described as that performed
abroad by the two separate agencies
now and consisting of or concerned
with informing the people of other
nations about any matter in which
the United States has an interest"
Personnel, records, property and
unexpended funds of the two units
60 to the new setup in such pro-
portion as the Budget Bureau de-
SAaCo 10 lcCeSSdTy-
The Secretary of State is em-
powered to name the head of the
interim group and to decide the
scope of its functions.
The Budget Bureau is to take
over the functions of Owls Bureau
OF Special Services and those fune-
lions having to do with the review
OF the publications of Federal
agencies.
After the final liquidation on De-
cember 81, the Treasury will take
over whatever remains of personnel.
RECORDS, property and unexpended
funds.
Work to Be Continued.
The Office of Inter-American
Affairs has played a major role in
strengthening the relationships be-
tween the United States and the
otner American republics" the
President said. "As distinct from
the international activities, the
work which the OIAA has been
carrying on Comparatively with the
governments of Latin American
countries in public health, agricul-
ture, and other fields will be con.
tinued by that agency.
TO the fullest possible extent
American private organizations and
individuals in such fields as news.
motion pictures and communications
Will, as In the past, be the primarv
means OF informing foreign peoples
about this country. The Govern
ment's international informatio,,
program will not compete with
them. 'A
Instead it will be designed IN
assist American private enterprises
engaged in the dissemination of In.
formation abroad and to s,Innle.
ment them in those specialized in.
formational activities in which
commercial or other limitations
make it difficult for private con-
Germs to carry on all necessary in.
formation work. -
This Government will not at.
tempt to outstrip the extensive and
growing information programs NJ
otner nations. Rather, it will en-
oeaVor to see to it that other
peoples receive a full and fair pic
ture OF American life and of the
aims and policies of the United
States Government"
Caribbean Storm Heads
Fnr Rri{ieh unnI,,