90. Letter From the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Johnson) to the President’s Special Assistant for National Security Affairs (Bundy)1
I am addressing this to you in reply to a letter dated July 27, 1962 from Mr. Amory of the Bureau of the Budget. His letter, a copy of which is enclosed, requested the views of the Department of State concerning Radio Liberty and Radio Free Europe.2
With regard to Radio Liberty, the consensus here is that the function of the Radio remains useful, and that its operation is generally satisfactory. Although in an effort of this sort there is always room for improvement, we do not have any critical problems with Radio Liberty.
We believe Radio Free Europe has an important role to play as an unofficial voice of the West and we support and urge a continuation of this operation. We therefore take an active and continuing interest in the work of this organization and try to follow it as closely as we can. Because of this significance of RFE we also feel that there should be further efforts made toward the improvement of its operation.
During the course of this year we requested and received assessments of RFE from our Missions in those Eastern European countries to which RFE broadcasts. In summary, our Missions concluded that:
1. RFE is, in the main, doing a more effective job in an important, complex and difficult undertaking.
2. This represents a contrast to RFE broadcasts of several years ago and reflects desirable modifications in terms of present United States policy interests.
3. Occasional mistakes of varying magnitude and some programs of lesser value occur. The proportion of these objectionable or deficient broadcasts to the total output has been reduced.
[Page 239]4. Adjustments should be made (in line with suggestions by the Missions) to increase the effectiveness of these broadcasts in the service of United States objectives.
5. Although on occasion an “emigre” rather than a “European” approach is still discernable in current RFE broadcasts, they tend generally to support the purpose of keeping Eastern European listeners in touch with and oriented toward Western life—especially in terms of association with Western Europe.
We agree generally with this judgement but desire at the same time to make the following additional comment. First, we note with appreciation the encouraging developments which have taken place more recently in the approach of RFE, giving it more the character of a European radio. We hope this development continues. Second, we believe the efforts of the Radio to talk to elements within or close to the regimes should be strengthened, recognizing that the priority target audience must include those persons and groups who are in a position to play a role in developments in Eastern Europe in the foreseeable future. Third, we are convinced that the Radio must drop that type of broadcast which reflects émigré value judgements of the regimes and key Communist personalities, and thus runs a predictable and substantial risk of alienating a primary target audience.
On this basis, we are happy to “stand up and be counted” in support of a continued program for the next several years for Radio Free Europe as an important instrument for the advancement of our foreign policy objectives in Eastern Europe.
Sincerely,
- Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Subjects Series, Box 306, Radio Free Europe. Secret. Bundy wrote in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum: “ack with thanks & be sure copy goes to Amory. McGB.”↩
- Attached but not printed. In it, Amory wrote: “We felt the need, however, for an authoritative statement by the Department of its views as to the desirability of continuing these programs, or, if such be the case, its suggestions for modifying them. I do not think such a letter need be particularly lengthy nor need it review the factual data which is available in pretty good shape. Essentially what I am requesting is that the Department ‘stand up and be counted’ on these two institutions.”↩