Evening star., 1951-04-08
Royburn to Demand Reason
For Drastic Cut in Voice Fund
Report Praises Work
But Says Much More
Must Be BeAccompIished
By Gornett D. Homer

Must Be Accomplished
By Gornett D. Homer
Americas expanded Campaign
of Truth" is being carried forward
effectively but much more must
be done before the United States
will be adequately waging the war
of IDEAS" the United States Ad-
visory Commission on Information
reported last night.
| Urging substantial enlargement
Iof the foreign information pro-
gram conducted by the State De-
Ipartment. the commission said
that to cut ito down sat this criti-
cal moment would be to court new
disasters"
! The semi-annual commission re-
port to Congress came as the
administration was battling a
move in the House to cut Voice of
America expansion funds by 80
per cent.
Report Praises Program.
The commission was set up by
Congress in 1948 to make recon-
mendations to the State Depart
ment for improving the informa-
tion program and report to Con-
gress on its effectiveness. It is
composed Of private citizens
prominent in newspaper, radio,
business and educational fields.
In its report made public last
night, the commission said its
basic conclusions" are that:
/. "The program is being effec-
lively administered"
2. It's personnel "has been
greatly improved"
3. Expansion authorized by the
last Congress as the Campaign
of Truth is being effectively car
ried forward"
| 4. Most Of the recommended
tionS made by the commission
have been put into effect.
5. "A great deal more can be
done and must be done before the
United States will be effectively
Waging the war Of IDEAS"
6. Evaluation techniques through
which the State Department tests
its programs need further
Strengthening. as much as possible
through independent sources" <
"Great Promise" Shown.
Z. Grave doubts exist about
whether putting the information
programs under new separate
agency instead OF the State De-
partment would be an improve
ment. These doubts were based
largely on disadvantages of di-
vorcing information operations
from policy-making.
8. Channels which have been
opened up to bring American priv
ate expertness into the program in
advisory and consultative capa-
cities SHOW great promise of ef-
lfective results"
Recalling that 1t previously had
urged substantial enlargement of
the information program. the COM
mission said this still is necessary
SO that the United States shall
not lose the struggle for mems
minds and for their active sup
port.
1t warned that 'there Is real
danger now that we slip back
into scemplaceney.'' ss-s..s.ag
Supports Marshall views.
Declaring that 1t believed De-
tense Secretary Marshall was
right when he said recently that
he regards the present situation
as more dangerous than it was
six months ago. the commission
added:
Therefore we strongly urge
that Congress keep right on pro-
viding enough ammunition and
manpower with which to wage
the war of ideas. To cut down
the information program at this
critical moment would be to court
new disasters.
| Although the tide Of Com
munist influence in Western
Europe has been turned back, it
is manifest that in vast un-com-
mitted areas of the world, the
United States has a long way to
go in clarifying its motives and
its meaning to peoples. Sucn
clarif1cation requires a major in
formation program. We must not
stop or slow up now"
| The report was signed by Erwin
10. Canhan, editor of the Chris
tain Science Monitor and chair
man of the commission; Philip D.
Reed, chairman of the board of
General Electric Co.; Mark A.
May, director of the Institute of
Human Relations at Yale Uni
versity and Justin Miller, presi-
dent of the National Association
LOT Broadcasters.
! Ben Hibbs. editor Of the Satur-
day Evening Post and the newest
member of the commission, did
not sign the report because he
was not confirmed by the Senate
as a member when it was pre-
pared.