Foreign Relations of the United States, 1945–1950, Emergence of the Intelligence Establishment

242. Memorandum From the Secretary of the State–Army–Navy–Air Force Coordinating Committee (Moseley) to the Under Secretary of State (Lovett)⁰

Washington, October 15, 1947.

SUBJECT

• Proposal for a National Psychological Warfare Organization

In accordance with procedure whereby the more important papers under consideration by the State–Army–Navy–Air Force Coordinating Committee (SANACC)¹ are brought to your and the Secretary’s attention, it is believed that you will be interested in SWNCC 304/6² which proposes the establishment in time of war or threat of war of a National Psychological Warfare Organization. This paper is a report of the SANACC Subcommittee on Special Studies and Evaluations which consists of full time representatives of State, CIG and the Armed Services, who have been directed to study and propose plans for the conduct of psychological warfare in time of war or threat of war. (Mr. Ralph Block, OIE, is Chairman of this Subcommittee.)

This paper proposes for approval (Tab A)³ the plans for a Psychological Warfare Organization which in time of war or threat of war would be either under the National Security Council or the reconstituted State–Army–Navy–Air Force Coordinating Committee. This organization would be empowered to provide unified direction and authoritative coordination of the national psychological warfare effort and activities, and operations related thereto. It would be headed by a director, appointed by the President; the director also to be chairman of a policy planning board which would include representation from the JCS, CIG and the Armed Services. The paper further recommends that the Organization should be provided with the necessary allocations of manpower, funds, facilities, etc.

The paper concludes (Tab B) that a psychological warfare specialist category should be established and training instituted now in the Army, Navy and Air Force and that rosters of available people for this type of work should also be made up by the State Department, CIG and the Armed Services.

The paper also brings out the facts that:

a. The SANACC Subcommittee is the only peacetime organization of the Government charged with the preparation of policies, plans and studies for employment of psychological warfare in time of war.

b. The Department of State and the Military Establishment have no funds appropriated for psychological warfare purposes.

c. No psychological warfare specialist reserves exist within the Military Establishment or the Department of State.

d. Adequate training of personnel for psychological warfare would require a training school, recruitment policies and measures, and an extensive training period.

It should be pointed out that the terms of reference of the SANACC Subcommittee authorize it to prepare policies and plans for employment only in time of war or threat of war, and that it is not authorized to conduct psychological warfare in peacetime. Thus, the plans proposed in the paper relate only to a wartime agency except for the proposals that there be created now a psychological warfare category by the Armed Services and that rosters of available personnel be prepared.

0. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 353, Records of Interdepartmental and Intradepartmental Committees—State Department, Records of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee, Box 55, File 304, 381, Psychological Warfare Pt. 1. Secret.
1. Earlier known as the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee (SWNCC).
2. Dated September 30. (National Archives and Records Administration, RG 353, Records of Interdepartmental and Intradepartmental Committees—State Department, Records of the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee, File 304, 381, Psychological Warfare Pt. 1) See the Supplement.
3. Although the source text identifies two enclosures, SENC 304/1 and SWNCC 304/6, it does not specify which is at which Tab A. SWNCC 304/1, which was forwarded to the National Intelligence Authority for concurrence on December 12, 1946, has not been found. (Memorandum by Earman; Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC–243, Job 84–00473R, Box 3, Folder 1)