Evening star., 1951-02-04
Benton Calls for Study
OF Independent Status
For Voice Of America

j VI VVlNV VI HAIlVI INO
Senator Benton, Democrat, of
Connecticut, disclosed yesterday
that he is planning to ask for a
special Senate investigation to
determine whether the Voice of
America should be taken from
the State Department and estab-
lished as an independent agency
He revealed this in releasing an
exchange of correspondence with
Secretary of State Acheson which
indicated sharp differences be-
tween Senator Benton and the
Secretary over the effectiveness
of the foreign information pro-
gram. Senator Benton wrote that
the correspondence still leaves
a chasn between u.s."
Nothing that Mr.. Acheson had
said the expanded information
program has in fact become a
vital part of our national STRAIT
egy," Senator Benton added:
II earnestly hope that you do
not mean that we are now meet
ing fully the challenge and op-
portunity in this field. The trag-
ic fact is that our information
program hasn't even begun to be
the vital part of our national
strategy as it should be. Evi-
dence Of this abounds every
where"
Acheson Reports on Progress.
Senator Benton is a former As
sistant Secretary of State for
Public Affairs. In that job he
was responsible for the Voice of
America overseas broadcasts and
other foreign information activi-
ties. He has been a consistent
defender in the Senate of Secre-
tary Acheson and the State De-
partment, and has fought for in
creased funds for the Voice of
America.
Mr.. Acheson wrote that new ar
rangements for handling the pro-
gram, including a general man
ager directly in charge of the un-
dertaking. "are working out very
we'll"
Saying he was concerned that
the program should not lose in
this critical period "any of the
vigor and momentum already at
tained," Mr.. Acheson suggested
that any proposals for taking the
operations from the State De-
partment should be most care
fully examined"
Senator Benton said he would
follow "a counsel of moderation"
and ask for a Senate inquiry to
look into the problem.
Benton Is Not Satisfied.
The State Department issued a
statement last night saying it mot
only welcomes, but is eager for,
an opportunity to lay before ap-
propriate representatives of Con-
gress the full story of the great
progress that has been made in
the world wide campaign Of
truth"
The Senator said he was not
persuaded that the provision of a
general manager-a position now
held by Charles M. Hulten, for
mer newspaperman and Govern
ment official for several years
met the problem. though he hao
"the highest admiration for the
man who has been placed in this
post"
He said the program should
have as many men, and men of a
high caliber, as Paul Hoffman was
liable to assemble for the ECA." "
Here. he added. you have the
most important argument" for
taking operating responsibility for
overseas information out of the
State Department and establish
ing separate agency.
Fund Called Inadequate.
Senator Benton said he thought
the country has been "woefully
negligent" in failing to respond
properly to President Truman's S
call for "a greatly expanded cam
paign Of truth" He added that a
$79 million supplemental appro-
priation given the program last
year "is pitifully Inadequate"
In his letter Mr.. Acheson said
the $79 million supplemental and
regular $32 million appropriations
were being used to % add six
powerful transmitters for the
Voice of America as "a major step
in the completion of a global net
work.; CO expanding from 5000
to 1865 the number of persons
engaged in these programs: (3)
expanding local production OF
pamphlets. posters, films and
leaflets using comic strip tech
ninues' and concentrating on %
critical countries, and "a to OBJ
tain the best advice possible for