29. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara0
JCSM-45-61
Washington, January 27,
1961.
SUBJECT
- Increased Tempo of the U.S. Information Offensive Toward Cuba (C)
- 1.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff are of the opinion that it would serve the National interest to intensify the information offensive of informing the Cuban citizens of the dangers inherent in the Castro governmentʼs alignment with the Sino-Soviets and their isolation from the Inter-American System. Such increased activity would definitely tend to offset the distorted view of U.S. objectives and policy that the Cuban populace now receive from their government and would contribute to the internal problems of the Castro regime.
- 2.
- One means of accelerating the information offensive could be through the greater employment of the Voice of America and Radio Swan, using increased power, and the long wave band so as to reach the largest possible segment of the Cuban populace. Consideration should be given to the employment of continental U.S. stations which would transmit regular commercial news and selected television programs using increased power for these broadcasts. It may be feasible to employ commercial stations in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as leading dissident Cubans now residing in these areas to assist in this offensive.
- 3.
- The Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that the Secretary of Defense forward the memorandum in the Appendix1 to the Secretary of State.