Evening star., 1957-08-15

the Department Of State and
the international Cooperation
Administration had not ade-
quately advised the Congress
about these polls and their uses.
Particular criticism is directed
at the office Of public reports
of ICA and the public studies
division Of the Department OF
State for being unco-operative
in supplying information and
for seeking to conceal this ac-
tivity from Congress and the
public.
I'm the course of this inves-
tigation, the subcommittee met
with considerable resistance
and lack of cooperation on the
part Of both the Department Of
State and the ICA. In the very
beginning, certain State De-
partment officials engaged in
delaying tactics. Efforts by the
department to withhold or de-
lay information made 1t neces-
sary for the subcommittee to
secure by subpoena the depart
ment's contract and related
papers from the National Opin-
ion Research Center in Chica-
60. During the hearings, the
testimony Of q number Of wit
nesses was marked by evasive-
ness and lack Of candor.
There is some satisfaction
in observing that during the
course Of our investigation, the
Department of State Cancelled
its contract for these polls and
stated that If such polls are
conducted in the future they
will not be paid for from emer-
gency funds"
No Stand on Future Polls
The subcommittee took no
stand on the propriety Of con-
ducting future polls. But 1t
suggested that If the depart
ment plans to do so with
proper funds:
Proper care be given to in
sure that the sample is suf-
flciently large to permit ade-
quate analysis and sufnciently
representative Of the popula-
tion at large to avoid distor-
ton, and that the questions are
so phrased as to diiferentiate
between informed and unin-
formed opinion. and to avoid
stimulating particular conclu-
sionS."
The subcommittee COM
planned that in the poll on
foreign aid as well as some
others in recent years the
sampling was too small and un-
representative and there was
lack Of care in interpreting
the results"
"The question which received
q 90 per cent Affirmative ans
wer concerning foreign aid)
and led to the news article
which started this inquiry" the
subcommittee said, was: DC
you think we should or should
not continue to send economic
aid. like machinery and sup
plies, TO countries which have
agreed to stand with us against
Communist aggreSsion?'
THE 30 per cent question led
to an Interpretation within ICA
that well illustrates the pitfalls
The 90 per cent approval fig-
ure. even If 1t could not be cor.
rected to distinguish informed
and 'uninformed' opinion, still
goes only to q small part oi
the mutual security program.
Tn an ICA memorandum
dated February IL by Mr.. Cald.
well in response to many in.
ternal agency queries that hac
been generated by The StaI
article. he cites the same figure
as representing general approx.
al Of the entire program. Thil
misinterpretation. whether in.
territorial or not. could leaC
readers Of the memorandum Il
draw conclusions contrary Il
fact. Similar misrepresenta
tions. compounded over a lonl
period. could lead to policy
Foundations based upon falls
assumptions as to what tn,
public's attitude was"
Other RecOmmendation
Besides its call for care IL
any future polls paid for b!
proper funds" the subcom,
mittee recommended that:
1.-The State Department re,
examine the uses it has mad,
and is making Of emergency
funds not only for public
opinion polls but for possibly
similar Questionable expendi,
lures"
2. The State Department anC
ICA "re-examine their con,
gressional liaison policies anC
practices with a view to in,
creasing the candor Of theil
responses to requests for infor'
nation by congressional com.
mittees and individual mem.
bers."
3. The Budget Bureau tighter
its supervision over expendi.
lures such as those made fol
the polls.
I'm the light OF the testi.
mony at hearings from las
February to July IS" the sub
committee said. "there Is NJ
indication that the bureau evel
took any action to discourag,
the use of emergency funds TO
this purpose or even to inquir,
into the reasons why the De,
partment might think use O