Foreign Relations of the United States, 1949, The Far East and Australasia, Volume VII, Part 2

890.00/8–2949

Memorandum to the Secretary of State¹

top secret

[Washington,] August 29, 1949.

Subject: Recommended Steps toward Meeting Situation in Far East

The situation in the Far East is serious. It threatens the interests of the United States. An element in the situation is the belief in Asia and among many people in the United States that the Communists (USSR) have taken from us the initiative. This belief is a fact of political importance. It must be acknowledged privately and countered openly.

We do not believe that the counters are primarily either arms or money. They are rather those used in psychological warfare. The technique is similar to that used in advertising. It is less necessary to convince the intellect than to appeal to the imagination.

The first necessity is therefore to find actions which contain dramatic elements. They must be chosen in relation to sound concepts of political strategy but, if not antagonistic to such concepts, their psychological or propaganda value would in itself be sufficient justification for their adoption.

The following steps are recommended as meeting these requirements:

1. A public statement of policy along the lines of the PPS Southeast Asia paper² espousing the cause of nationalism.

This statement should preferably be issued jointly by the Secretary with Bevin and Schuman.³ McDonald⁴ has advocated this step. Schuman might be induced to join.

The timing should be about September 19 on the eye of the General Assembly. If the statement is unilateral, it should be in your speech to UNGA September 20–21.

2. A statement by the President on the radio during Nehru’s visit stating United States policy toward Asia including re-emphasis on Point IV. This would include emphasis on our approval of nationalism and our tolerance.

The timing would be around the first week of October.

3. Invitation to States interested in Pacific including USSR to reaffirm principles of Washington Conference of 1922 re Chinese integrity, etc.

The timing should be part of your speech to UNGA or in first debate on Chinese case, if presented. Perhaps there should be a synchronized British statement re ultimate rendition of leased territory and Hong Kong.

4. Appointment of a High Commissioner of the United States for the Far East, perhaps Ralph Bunche.⁵

The timing should be late October or early November.

5. Consideration of utility of visit of Ambassador at Large to Far East.

The timing should be shortly after the close of UNGA, about the end of December.

6. Immediate and continuous activity on propaganda front including radio, pamphlets, material for newspapers and agents.

7. Popular organization to support Point IV program comparable to effort behind Hull reciprocal trade agreements program.

8. Active public support for a peace treaty with Japan.

9. Discussion of above steps with Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress.

10. Pressure on the Philippines to institute economic and social reforms to demonstrate potentialities of the “good life” in a non-communist society. Encouragement and assistance to India to be likewise.

1. Submitted by Dr. Raymond Bland Fosdick, President Everett Case of Colgate University, and Ambassador at Large Philip C. Jessup; they were consulting about Far Eastern policy for the Department (See Department of State Bulletin, August 22, 1949, p. 279, and September 5, 1949, p. 358.) The memorandum was initialed by the Secretary of State.
2. PPS 51, March 29, p. 1128.
3. Robert Schuman, French Minister for Foreign Affairs.
4. Malcolm MacDonald, Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom in Southeast Asia, at Singapore.
5. Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, Director of the UN Division of Trusteeship and of the Department of Trusteeship and Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories.