Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XX, Eastern Europe

23. Memorandum for the Special Coordination Committee¹

Washington, May 14, 1978

SUBJECT

• Annual Review of Ongoing Covert Action Activities as Required by Executive Order 12036²

[Omitted here is information unrelated to Eastern Europe.]

SOVIET AND EAST EUROPEAN BOOK DISTRIBUTION

1. STATUS:

The ongoing program for distributing uncensored literature to the Soviet Union and East Europe was last reviewed by the SCC in February 1977 and approved by the President on 5 March 1977. Following the SCC review, CIA was directed to submit proposals for expanding the program, which resulted in an augmented budget for FY 78 of [dollar amount not declassified]. These funds provide for the publishing and distribution of books and periodicals, support to emigre organizations for the same purpose, and human rights publicity. An important accomplishment of the modest latter program was continued publication of a newsletter to help coordinate activities of human rights groups in Western Europe. Distribution statistics from the major book distribution activity for the six month period 1 December 1977–30 May 1978 show an increase of 40% over the same period of last year. Projected over a 12 month period we estimate a total distribution of 245,000 books by this one activity, as opposed to 175,000 in the previous year. Financial assistance is being given to a major Russian emigre publishing house, and one time assistance was given to a Russian-language periodical to help it organize its financial status and find outside backing; this was successful. A publishing asset will put out 10 books in Russian and Polish in FY 78, up from 6 in FY 77. As a result of these and other initiatives, including the economic stimulus provided to the Russian publishing market by the increased purchases of our book distribution project, we expect a significant increase in the publication of important books by the end of FY 78. Feedback from individuals in the East, travelers and recent emigres confirms the program is having a strong impact.

2. PLANS:

The virtually insatiable demand in the Soviet Union and East Europe for proscribed literature, inflation and the decline of the dollar’s purchasing power constitute major challenges for the program. The FY 79 budget of [dollar amount not declassified] does not mitigate these pressures, hence it is proposed to augment the FY 79 allocation by [2 lines not declassified] through reprogramming of funds within CIA. For FY 80, the program is budgeted at [dollar amount not declassified]. This figure includes [dollar amount not declassified] for book distribution; [dollar amount not declassifed] for book publishing, [dollar amount not declassifed] for periodicals; [dollar amount not declassified] each to Ukrainian and Russian emigre organizations for publishing and distribution; [dollar amount not declassified] for human rights publicity; and [dollar amount not declassified] for developmental activities.

[Omitted here is information unrelated to Eastern Europe.]

1. Source: National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box I–020, Minutes SCC Intelligence 1978. Secret; Sensitive. There is no evidence that the program was specifically discussed in the SCC. The Summary of Conclusions of the May 16 meeting, approved by Aaron on May 22, make no mention of the Publication and Distribution program. (Ibid.)
2. Executive Order 12036 assigned responsibility for special activities or covert action to the CIA and required an annual review by the SCC of ongoing special activities. (Section 1–306 (a))