Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, East Asia and the Pacific, Volume VI

511.90/6–2150

Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Webb) to the President

top secret

[Washington,] June 21, 1950.

Memorandum for the President

Subject: Allocation of Funds to Provide an Intensified Program of Information and Educational Exchange for Southeast and South Asia under Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act.

The Department of State recommends that an intensified program of information and educational exchange be undertaken immediately in the countries of Southeast and South Asia to acquaint those countries with the policies of the United States and to explain United States’ programs of military and economic aid to their peoples and governments. An important part of this information program will be concerned with the true nature of Communism and its threat to the independence of those countries through aggression from without and subversive activities from within.

While it is clear that a major responsibility for attaining the objectives of the total program rests with the governments concerned, the Department of State recognizes that no local governments are equipped to perform the informational task. Nor can the Department of State undertake an expanded program on the scale required in this crucial area within the limits of the modest appropriation available for its overseas information and education program. In this connection it will be recalled that you, on December 30, 1949, approved the conclusions of the National Security Council on “The Position of the United States with Respect to Asia” (NSC 48/2) which included the following statement (3–k):

“The United States should undertake an information program, both foreign and domestic, and publish United States’ policies and programs vis-à-vis Asia designed to gain maximum support both at home and abroad.”

It is therefore requested that you at this time approve an intensified program of information and educational exchange for Southeast and South Asia, and that the amount of $2,930,000 be allocated immediately for this purpose under Section 303 of the Mutual Defense Assistance Act.¹ This program would be administered by the Secretary of State under the provisions of Public Law No. 402.²

These funds would permit the immediate expansion of the information program in this critical area. The estimates provided herein (Annex B)³ are the nearest that could be made at this time and are based on the assumption that Congress will authorize the carry-over of unobligated Section 303 funds into fiscal 1951. It is anticipated that this allocation will be sufficient to carry the intensified program in Asia until the Congress acts on the supplemental information appropriation for fiscal 1951 which you already have approved in principle for submission to Congress.

It is anticipated that a substantial part of the funds would be obligated before the end of this fiscal year for the purchase of supplies and equipment which are urgently needed in overseas operations and for which sufficient field staff is available to provide immediate utilization. This will provide an immediate impact on the peoples of the area.

Details of the proposed intensified programs are given in Annexes A and B.

James E. Webb

Annex A

top secret

[Washington, June 21, 1950.]

Memorandum Prepared in the Department of State

Intensified Information Program for Southeast and South Asia

An intensified information program for Southeast and South Asia is recommended because of the increasing communist threat to this area and the generally meager knowledge and understanding of the United States on the part of the peoples of this area. An intensified information program must be undertaken simultaneously with our economic and military assistance programs if the United States is to obtain maximum value from its efforts in the area.

Practically all of these countries are young in political and economic developments. The level of literacy is low, as is the standard of living. Communications are poor. The national governments lack adequate funds and trained personnel for widespread public education and information programs. Comparatively few nationals understand the current policies of the United States or the history and tradition of this country.

Communist-controlled areas border most of these countries. Indigenous Communist movements are known to exist within their borders. Communist propaganda bitterly denounces the United States and its policies with regard to those countries. The start of military and economic assistance programs will be grossly misrepresented by Moscow and by local Communist groups. If our aid in military and economic terms is to be understood and accepted, it is vital that means be provided for explaining the purpose of this aid and the objectives of the United States.

The Department’s overseas information and educational exchange program is operating on a limited scale in the major cities of the area. If the American story is to reach any considerable part of the population, the present program must be expanded and adapted to meet local needs.

The Special Economic Mission, headed by Robert Allen Griffin, cited the need for an intensified effort in information and educational exchanges to accompany economic assistance to the countries in this area.

The Voice of America must be expanded so that it will reach a larger number of people in the area in their own languages. Motion pictures, film-strips and other visual materials should reach far greater numbers of persons unable to read than in the past. News bulletins, features, pamphlets and books must be made available in the local languages. While all means possible should be used to spread information about the United States and to counter Communist propaganda as quickly as possible, the long-term objectives of the program must also be maintained. Through special aids to local education, particularly through the Department’s Exchange of Persons program, every effort should be made to improve general education and to help train the leaders and students in these countries.

Detailed proposals for expanding all of the above activities in the area are contained in the attached document (Annex B).

1. In a letter of July 5, President Truman notified the Secretary of State that he had approved the request (511.90/7–550).
2. Reference is to the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948—the Smith–Mundt Act (62 Stat. 6).
3. Not printed.