Evening star., 1947-02-20
Letters to The Star
He Questions the Value of First
Broadcast to Russia
To the Editor OF The Star

BROADCAST 10 Russia
To the Editor OF The Star:
It is a little too early to grow enthu-
siastic about the State Departments
broadcasts to the Soviet Union, as does
your otherwise talented writer, Newbold
Noyes. jr. One must suspend judgment
until specific results are noted, difficult
as that is from behind the Soviet iron
curtain. It is not too early, however, to
set certain standards of judgment in
regard to this highly expensive project,
launched with so much fanfare prior to
a review of the activities of the Cultural
Division of the State Department by
Senate and House Appropriation Com
mittees. Certain questions, it seems to
me, are relevant.
It is claimed that there are from
100000 to 100000 receiving sets in the
Soviet Union. What proof does the
State Department have that there are
that many sets, other than Soviet gov
ernment-manipulated statistics? What
proof has the Department of State that
such radios are not so adjusted by gov
our broadcasts? Does our Government
understand that all radios are licensed
in the Soviet Union? Has the State
Department consulted with recent ar
rival from Russia like Kravchenko on
the possible effectiveness of such broad
casts, to determine whether or not they
are actually received? With living
standards as low as they are in Russia,
how do we know that workers can ac-
tually afford to purchase receiving sets?
Naive Attitude Suspected.
In view of the strict censorship exer-
cised by the Soviet government over
foreign correspondents in all territory
under its control, irf view of its recent
prohibition of foreign broadcasts from
Soviet soil, does it not seem rather
naive to believe that this government
will freely allow foreign broadcasts to
its people? If the broadcasts were made
as a result of some prearrangement as
to content with the Soviet government,
1t would be we'll to know what that pre-
arrangement is
United States is faced with world wide
barrage of hostile propaganda from di-
rect and indirect Soviet sources, including
broadcasts from the Soviet Union itself
and from the Communist Parties and
their auxiliary organizations through
out the world. The theme song of this
propaganda is: dl That the United
States is an imperialiStic country seek
ing world conquest; (2) that the United
States is facing deep-going economic
crisis; 90 that the American people
live in misery; "a that lynching Negroes
is favorite American pastime; (5) that
the American press does not tell our
people the truth. BY way of contrast
the Soviet Union is depicted as para
disc and true democracy. Observers
who have visited foreign countries tes-
tify to the effectiveness of this barrage
in reducing the prestige of the United
States.
How are we meeting this barrage? We
choose as editor of the broadcasts to
Russia one Nicholas Nobakoff, a COM
| poser of sorts, who has written nothing
| of any note in either Russian or English
We pick man like that to combat the
most experienced propaganda machine
in the world.
What Do They Accomplish?
Left-wingers in the State Department
and outside are addicted to ridiculing
the "soap operas" which are broadcast
| by American radio stations. But it seems
| to me that we are shooting soap bubbles
| against veritable atomic barrage of
propaganda against us.
In a most misleading manner, for ex-
ample, the New York Times carries
under headline "Text of Translated
First Broadcast to Russians by State
Department Agency" some material
broadcast to other countries, including
some critical remarks on Russian lend
lease. These remarks were not broadcast
to Russia.
What effect, for example, would the
following State Department program
have in counteracting the present war
of words against us: Relations of states
to each other and to the Federal Gov
ernment in regard to taxes, motoring
criminal and civil laws; relations be-
tween the two legislative bodies of our
Nation; Turkey in the Straw" "Gittin
| Up Holler," "The Old Chisholm Trail,
"Git-along, Little Dogie," "Hoedown";
! synthetic chemical called pyribenzamine
and the new method of photographing
infrared rays; Cole Porter's Might and
Day." etc.?
1t would seem to me as citizen and
a taxpayer that we are faced with very
definite alternatives. Either the Soviet
government, by rigidly kept agreement
ceases her world wide propaganda
against us, or if we would retain the re-
spect and cooperation of the peoples OF
the world, we are forced if Russia does
not desist, to answer in kind, to meet her
propaganda with counter propaganda. II
the present program remains true to the
pattern of the first broadcast we might
as well throw our $4,000 900 down a
rat hole FL.
Aid for Alcoholics
To the Editor OF The STAR
May I take this opportunity to con-
graduate The Washington Star on the
splendid series of articles which have
been presented by George Kennedy.
The articles were most comprehensive
and informative on this provocative
subject, and it is my hope that every
body in the District of Columbia in
terested in this pressing problem had