Evening star., 1950-07-23
Advocates Improvement
Of Voices QuoIity
Writer Wants Better
Propaganda Drive
By Fronk R. Kent

The weight Of opinion among those
who ought to know, including Gen. Eisen-
hover, Gen. Marshall, B. M Baruch.
Secretary Of State Acheson John Foster
Dulles, David Sarnof and good many
others. Is overwhelmingly In favor Of
increased appropriations for the 'Voice
OF America" so that 1t may more effec-
lively counteract the nti-American
propaganda with which the Soviets are
drenching the world.
Concerning the Importance of explain-
ing the American viewpoint and dis
seminating the facts throughout the
world, there is no dispute. Also, there
Is little dispute that in the past, though
great deal Of money has been spent.
this has not been well or skillfully done,
We have, 1t Is said, simply not gotten
our moneys worth out of the "Voice Of
America" Up. to now it has been feeble
and often vague voice, which is a pity
but, nevertheless, fact. Though not so
intended, in effect, this Is the testimony
OF the distinguished Americans who have
appeared before the Senate Foreign Re-
lations Committee considering a resolu-
ton to enhance the flow of American
information abroad.
And this is the basis for the great
new campaign of truth" which, with Mr..
Truman's backing. is about to be launch.
ed. According to Assistant Secretary Of
State Edward w. Barrett, who now heads
the Voice" the purpose is to slap down
Soviet miSStatements and put Americas
case before friends, neutrals and antag.
onlStS." Spokesman in the Senate for
this campaign and author Of the resolu-
tion is Senator William Benton Of Con-
necticut. Two things will be recalled
about Mr.. Benton. One Is that he was e
partner Of Gov. Chester Bowles In the
advertising business: the other, that a.
an Assistant Secretary Of State he was
the head Of the Voice" for several years
prior to his appointment as Senator.
Under the pending resolution Senator
Benton announces he would expand the
Voice Of America fivefold."
Certainly. with the approximately 800
million additional which Is being asked
for the Voice" it can be very greatly
expanded. And the plans Of Senator
Benton and Mr.. Barrett will vastly in
crease its size and scope. There seems
no real opposition to this. On the con-
trary, the expansion idea Is indorsed not /,
only by the mentioned eminent
individuals. but is favorably regarded
by most Of the newspapers of the coun-
try. In brief, there is general recognition
Of the inadequacy of our propaganda
machine and a very widespread senti-
ment favoring expansion. a..
However, there is another side to this.
For example. there are those who insist
that what the "Voice" really needs is
improved quality rather than increased
quantity. The effectiveness Of our propa-
ganda cannot be judged by its volume.
The real yardstick is the character Of
the personnel. Unless it Is manned by
the right men, multiplying it fvefold
will merely multiply its confusion and
futility.
Under Mr.. Barrett there is no charge
Of partisanShip or political favor
to the propaganda. The only allegation
is that the output Is factual but dull
to the point Of being bore. Recently
David Lawrence asserted that the "Voice
Of America" reads 'like a press asso-
citation report of 80 years -stodgy,
wordy and without terseness or snap"
No American newspaper or magazine
would print anything like it, and it is
dificut to believe that the average
man" in Russia or anywhere else abroad,
even II the report reaches him, could
be induced to read it. Couple its drab-
ness with the fact that the administers
ton is not too clear about the policies
it wants broadcast to the world, and
its futility Is easy to understand. None
Of this is intended to mean that more
money should not be given the Voice
to expand. It does mean that more
money Is by no means the whole answer.
It does mean that quality Is more i'm
portant than quantity and that with
more money the obligation to improve
the quality becomes imperative.