RADIO FREE EUROPE - CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000500270061-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2006
• Sequence Number: 61
• Publication Date: February 10, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

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November 17, 1967
The Honorable James C. Eastland
The United States Senate
Washington 25, D. C.
? Dear Senator Eastland:
The ibc r s of 1xlCyruo : t~ Of Directors of 6118 organii anon, all
of our employees and tens of milliono of peoples in Liar e n u op Owe
you a debt of gratitude for your ~ hol heart d and . effective intervention
in the question of our survival. 1 was not exaggerating yesterday when
I said that this has been the most encouragin development for us in the
past seven r?..~onths.
Thainks to you, Senator Dirk en ggave us a warm welcome yester-
day afternoon and indicated his desire to do whatever he could. 1 was
Much encouraged.
It occurs to me that you rni; ht like to see a copy of the merao-
randum which senator Dirksen asked us to p; epare fo: hinl and it is
1 therefore t nclosed.
Wilea great respect,
Sincerely yours,
John Richardson, . Jr.
JRjr:mrf
Enclo sur e
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PRESENT SITUATION OF I AD O FREE EUROPE
Background
Radio Free Europe is the No. I channel of communication between
the people of five strategic East European countries and the Western World.
Its regular listenership totals twenty-five million persons--approximately
half of the politically aware (aged 15 or older) populations of its listening area
RIFE pioneered, in peacetime, a unique. means of reaching into and
influencing denied areas. Its broadcasts center on the problems and con-
cerns of its listeners, rather than the projection of official American
viewpoints. It specializes in information about East Europe itself which
Communist regimes suppress or distort. Professionally qualified East
Europeans, directed and supervised by responsible Americans, talk to their
countrymen exactly as if they were operating a free patriotic opposition press
inside each country.
The fi-cst loosening of Soviet control over the area, and first stirrings
of change or opportunities for change, have intensified RFE's special value.
In the words of a recent official Executive Branch survey, "meaningful
improvement of conditions in East Europe will substantially depend on the
kind of changes RFE seeks to promote. "
RFE's combination of initiative and flexibility with responsibility,
and ability to maintain its private image and person-to-person relationship
with its audiences, depend on two factors: Boards of Directors (of Free
Europe, Inc. and Radio Free Europe Fund, Inc.) made up of nationally
respected private citizens with distinguished backgrounds in public affairs
and the business world- and a nationw11ddee ~ ism supported
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by thousands of volunteer civic and business leaders and national organization
These citizens, and millions of individual contributors, feel a personal
commitment to RFE. They believe (and they are essentially correct)-that
their support has made possible and effective a privately managed national
institution which makes a vital contribution--their contribution--to freedom,
security and peace.
Periodic charges that RFE was CIA-or government-supported,
over the years, have never shaken this attitude because the fundamental
private attributes of the effort were obvious. The sensational publicity set
off by Ramparts magazine last February has had no perceptible effect on
volunteer fund campaigners or on the, level of contributions.
The Problem
Following widespread exposure of covertly financed activities, a
special committee headed by Undersecretary Katzenbach produced, and the
'resident approved on March 29, a statement of policy that "no Federal
agency " 'should "provide any covert financial assistance... to any of the
nation's educational or private voluntary organizations.
This report projected December 31, 1967, as the date by which covert
financing could be "largely--perhaps entirely" terminated. It also proposed
that if-"overriding national security interests" required, exceptions might
be made by the Interdepartmental Review Committee with concurrence of the
Secretaries of State and Defense.
(The report also proposed development of a public-private mechanism
to openly finance overseas activities which serve the national interest. Howev
theA&V ScQW-
PLq-V tFe seed o06/5 explore t is, nu der Secretary y Rusk, has confined its
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studies to educational and cultural activities, and has made no formal.
proposals. )
The Boards of both Free Europe, Inc. , and RFE Fund, Inc. , (he . aded
by their Chairmen, Former Ambassador to NATO John C. Hughes and Standar
Oil of New Jersey Chairman Michael L. Haider) and Executive Committee
Chairmen (fo'mer Ambassador to the U. N. Ernest A: Gross and CBS
President Dr.' Frank Stanton) took an immediate active interest in seeking a
solution for RFE consonant with the Katzenbach Report requirements. In
June, they addressed a three-point recommendation to the sub-cabinet level
committee which oversees covert activities. This recommendation called
for continuation of RFE and related activities maintenance of its private
character, and such acknowledgment of government support as might be
necessary. Both Boards offered their services in finding a solution.
The -sub-cabinet group discussed all possible alternatives and narrowed
them down to three: continuation of RFE substantially as at present; transfer
to USIA; or liquidation. However, before deciding among these, it directed
a joint study by representatives of all agencies concerned. This study group
recommended continuance of RFE on the present scale, funding as at present
but with acknowledgment, and limiting of public solicitation.
However, no action was taken on this recommendation by the sub-
cabinet group; in early September, the issue passed to cabinet-level considerat
As of November 17, no decision has been reached. The deadline projected by
the Katzenbach Report is, as stated, December 31.
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Consequences of Transfer
Directors are convinced that a transfer to USIA would be tantamount
to liquidation- It would be read as a "government takeover, " and would
result in a progressive, very rapid dissolution of the organization and its
The gravest consequences would be loss to the United States of
major capabilities to exert pressure against the USSR through its closest
allies, and loss also of the West's strongest single form of leverage, through
communications, on developments in much of the Communist world. The
psychological impact of a seeming U. S. withdrawal of interest and "presence"
from an area important to future European unity and peace would be felt in
both East and West Europe.
However, the areas of immediate difficulty would be in the U. S. :
Private supporters: Those who have personally taken part in efforts
supporting RFE, helping to convince the American public, their friends,
bxisiness.colleagues and organizations, that RFE's private character was
crucial to its success. They include:
--Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson
--Secretaries. Dulles, Herter and McElroy, Generals Clay,
Norstad and Gruenther, and former Undersecretaries
(now Board members) Roswell Gilpatric, Robert 'Murphy and
Livingston Merchant.
--Hundreds of major corporation executives such as Messrs.
Haider, Greenewalt (du Pont Chairman), Roche (General
Motors Chairman), Henry Ford II, etc.
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--National organizations and many of their chief executives:
American Legion, VFW, General Federation of Womens'
Clubs, U. S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, and nearly
eighty others.
--Some eight thousand community leaders in every state.
Iniaddition, there have been several million contributors.
i
Generally speaking, these are many of the same people who provide
the backbone of support for American policy on Vietnam and for firm, con-
structive approaches in foreign relations generally. The sense of betrayal
which they would logically feel, if the importance of RFE's private character
were suddenly negated and its effectiveness undercut, would have damaging
consequences.
Special-interest groups: Large East European ethnic groups, as well
as other anti-Communist-oriented organizations, would read an apparent
emasculation of RFE as a symptom of "appeasement" of the Communist world.
The impact could be massive: in Poland alone, RFE has an estimated ten
million listeners, who in turn have active ties with many of the estimated six
million Polish-Americans.
Outside the United States, RFE's ability to continue operations in
West Germany and Portugal would be imperiled by its becoming a de facto
subsidiary of the Voice of America or USIA. With such a pretext, broadcast
licenses, property leases and frequency assignments could all revert to the
local governments for their own use or transfer to the highest bidder.
The Solution
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The value of RFE has been repeatedly affirmed by official bodies, by
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Ambassadors in RFE's target area, and by numerous private professional
experts. Its efficiency and effectivenes-F are not in. question.
The Directors are unanimously convinced that RFE must be preserved
with its private character intact. They believe that because of RFE's over-
whelming public support, any solution to the current problem will work,
which does not require major changes in the present funding arrangements and
public posture.
Radio Liberty
Radio Liberty, because of the importance of its target audiences in
the Soviet Union, serves. the national j.nterest in the same way as RFE, and
most of the above considerations apply to it as well.
November 17, 1967
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RFEA 459 FEB 71
I
TO (DURKEE' INFO YARROW HOVEY DUNNING XAUFCAA'IN REYMAN
FMs\WA R INFO GROZIER KINGS LEY FISCHER
U R G E N T
ITEM OF SPECIAL INTEREST:
FURTHER, RE. RFEA 30 OF 9 FEBRUARY, ??THE FOLLOWING IS
THE FEBRUARY 7 NEPSZABADSAG ARTICLE BY ISTVAN PINTER, WHICH
APPEARED IN THE SUNDAY SUPPLEMENT SECTION UNDER THE HEADLINE
"THE APPEARANCES SHOULD REMAIN...." WITH THE SUBHEADLINE
"SECRET AMERICAN DOCUMENTS ON THE SITUATION OF RFE." IT
INCLUDES THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED BLURRED REPRODUCTIONS OF
PURPORTED LETTERS BY JOHN RICHARDSON AND SENATOR EASTLAND;
ON ONE LETTER ONLY THE LETTER HEAD "UiTED STATES SENATE"
AND THE SALUTATION "THE PRESIDENT, THE WHITE HOUSE, WASHING-
TON D.C." AND "MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT" ARE LEGIBLE, WHILE
ON THE OTHER THE LETTERHEAD ."FREE EUROPE INC.," THE SIGNATURE
"JOHN RICHARDSON JR." AND A STAMPED "CLASSIFIED" CAN BE READ.,
(A COPY OF THE FACTUAL ARTICLE' IS BEING AIR-POUCHED TO YOU
FEBRUARY 10.) FULL TRANSLATION FOLLOWS:
TWO UNKNOWN ACQUAINTANCES IN, MIUNIC:H RECEIVED SIMULTANEOUSLY
THE URGE TO WRITE LETTERS REPORTING ENE RE tNEWED COMMOTION CAUSED
IN ENGLISCHER GARTEN 1, THAT IS TO SA` IN THE CENTER OF RFE,
BY THE STEP TAKEN BY CLIFFORD CASE, AMERICAN SENATOR. AS IT IS
KNOWN9 CASE PUBLISHED THE RESULTS OF THE INVESTIGATION DEALING
WITH THE SECRET RELATIONS BETWEEN RFE AND THE CIA. IN MUNICH THE
NERVOUSNESS WAS NOT CAUSED PRIMARILY BY THE EXPOSURE, AS THE
RELATIONS BETWEEN THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND RFE ARE
FOR SOME TIME ALREADY NO SECRET TO THE NEWSPAPER READERS, BUT
BECAUSE CASE PROPOSED AGAIN THAT INSTEAD OF THE CIA WHICH SECRETLY
FINANCES THE RADIO'S ACTIVITIES, RFE'S BUDGET SHOULD BE DETERMINED
BY AMERICAN LEGISLATION.
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THE MEMORANDUM.
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AND SUPPORT- THEM FROM WASHINGTON AND I1}LIB YORK -- ADHERE ST 3BBORNLY
AND OBSTINATELY TO THE STATUS QUO. THAT IS TO SAY THJEY ADHERE TO
THE PRACTICE WHICH -- ACCORDING TO A COiFIDENTIALE(3?:DuI: DATED
17 NOVEMBER 1967 AND PREPARED IN THE MUNICH CENT"ER -- "IS BASED
UPON TWO FACTORS: ON THE BOARD CF DIRECTORS (FREE EUROP COMPANY,
RFE FOUNDATION CORPORATION) THE ME+i3ERS OF WHICH APE PERSONS
WITH EMINENT AND SERIOUS SOCIAL AND BUSINESS BACKGROUNDS, AND
(ON) AN ORGANIZATION COLLECTING FUNDS NATIO 3WIDE WHICH HAS THE
VOLUNTARY SUPPORT OF THOUSANDS OF. NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
LEADING PERSONALITIES OF THE SOCIAL AND BUSINESS WORLD."
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THE MEMORANDUM SENT BY JOHN RICHARDSON JR. TO SENATOR JAMES 0.
EASTLAND, WHICH CAME INTO OUR POSSESSION TOGETHER WITH AN ALSO
CONFIDENTIAL f 9.ETTER WRITTEN BY SENATOR EASTLAND TO JOHNSON,
PRESIDENT OF THE USA AT THE TIME, ARE VERY INTERESTING AND
EDIFYING LECTURES. IT WAS COMPOSED WITH THE AIM TO GIVE DETAILED
INFORMATION ON THE GOALS OF RFE, ITS METHODS AND SITUATION TO
THOSE WHO, DURING THE COURSE OF THE DEB ATE DEVELOPED IN
WASHINGTON, TOOK A STAND WITH KEEPING UP RFC:?S STATUS QUO. IT
WAS SENATOR DIRKES.N WHO ASKED FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE MEMO-
RANDUM AND THEN EASTLAND9 AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE S JUDICIARY
COMMITTEE, ADDRESSED A LETTER TO JOHNSON IN THE DEFENSE OF RFE
("WE ARE EXPRESSEDLY ASKING THAT RADIO LIBERTY AND RADIO FREE
EUROPE SHOULD BE' ABLE TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE SAME
SYSTEM OF FINANCING AS HITHERTO.") AND JOHN RICHARDSON JR. SENT
HIM, ACCOMPANIED BY A LETTER FULL OF THANKS ("YESTERDAY I WAS
NOT EXAGGERATING' WHEN I SAID THAT FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS YOUR
STATEMENT WAS THE MOST ENCOURAGING EVET ), A COPY ENTITLED:
"THE PRESENT SITUATION OF RADIO FREE EUROPE ." SINCE THEN THE
SITUATION IS ACTUALLY UNCHANGED. IT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED TO THE
EXTENT THAT IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT; IT HAS TO CHANGE SHORTLY AS
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IT BECOMES MORE AND MORE UNTENABLE 1
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IN THE It;TRODUCTION `- T91. 4T WAN YO IN ER~VENN I N THE LIFE
OF THE SO-CALLED "EAST -EUROPEAN COU~~TRIES." "IN PEACE TIME RFE
IS THE ONLY MEANS WITH THE HELP OF UHICH THIS AREA CAN BE ,REACHED
AND WHERE WE CAN EXERT IiFLUENCE.'? THAT IS TO SAY: THEY INTEND
RFE TO BECOME AN INSTRUNEENT WHICH SUBSTITUTES THE "REAL" TOOLS
OF WAR, THEY ELABORATE THAT RFE IS SUIT ABLE, WITH THE HELP OF
WESTERN MONEY AND OTHER EtiEANS9 TO PRODUCE AN EFFECT IN AN IMPORTANT
" MO RE
PART OF THE COMMUNIST WORLD, THE METHOD IS SUBORDINATED TO 'THE
GOAL: THEY SPEAK TO THEIR COfPATRICTSa UNDER THE DI -ECTION AND
CONTROL OF THE RESPONSIBLE AMERICAN LEADERS, AS IF PUBLISHING
FREELY IN THE TERRITORY CF THEIR OWN COUNTRIES AS A PATRIOTIC
OPPOSITION PIRESSO
THUS IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THE APOSTLES OF RFE STUBBORNLY
MAINTAIN THEIR ALLEGATION THAT THEY DO NOT RECEIVE THEIR MONEY
FROM THE AMERICAN BUDGET AND FROM THE CIA. THE PRESENT CON-
STRUCTION COVERS THE EVIDENT FACT THAT, CONTRARY TO THE RADIO'S
NAME, IT HAS AT ITS DISPOSAL VERY OFFICIAL RESTRICTIONS AND,
IN REALITY, CARRIES OUT INN ITS OWN CHARACTERISTIC LANGUAGE THE
MOST"AGGRESSIVE LINE OF OFFICIAL AMERICAN POLICY.
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^~~s'.yD~ta U -R r1 I I a?S. IN n a~UiL, 14 - wf~ti - WHICH
HAS BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE RECENTLY PUB ISHED DATA BY SEINATOR
CASE -- RF (AND RADIO LIBERTY CARR'I G CUT THE SAHE FUNCTIONS
IN RUSSIAN) ARE DIRECTLY AND PROVABLY FINANCED (TO THE EXTEN17 OF)
90 PER CENT BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE USA. AFTER THIS T ?
ARGUMENTATION OF THE MEMORANDUM IS SHEER t OaNSENaSE WHEN I T SAYS:
"THE FOR YEARS PERIODICALLY VOICED (SIC.) SLANDERS, ACCO DIN'O
TO WHICH RFE IS FINANCED BY THE CIA OR THE AMERICAN GOVERNt ENT,
DID NOT WEAKEN THE RADIO'S POSITION AS THE ENTIRE PRIVATE
CHARACTER OF THE FINANCING WAS EVIDENT, THE DATA PUBLISHED IN
FEBRUARY THIS YEAR IN 'THE PERIODICAL RAMPART(S) HAD NO EFFECT
ON THE VOLUNTEERS CARRYING OUT THE COLLECTION, THAT IS TO SAY
ON THE SUFES OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS."
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IT HAS TO BE ADDED THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE PROPORTION OF THESE
MONEY SOURCES, THE SIZE OF CHECKS AND BANKNOTES FROM THE PRIVATE
DONORS EFFECTS RFE ONLY IN AN INSIG141F!CANT MEASURE. IT IS MUCH
MORE IMPORTANT THAT THIS FORT, OF FIPErA' CING SERVES AS A DISGUISE.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY THE E131RK OF THE CQMLMITTEE LED BY UNDER
SECRETARY OF STATE KATZENBACH, WHICH, REVISED EXTENSIVELY "THE
COVERTLY FINANCED ACTIVITIES", CAUSED SUCH A PANIC IN MUNICH,
AND WHICH DESIGNATED 31 DECENIBER 19S7 AS THE DEAD-LINE "WHEN THE
GREATEST PAR` OF THE COVERT FINANC1 G HAS TO CEASE , OR PERHAPS
ALL OF IT." TRUE, THE COrI IT SEE SAW SO" E EXCEPTIONS TO BE NECESSARY
FOR CASES WHEN "THE VITAL INTEREST OF t-NATICNAL SECURITY- MAKES
THIS DESIRABLE. THIE is EMORA.NDU ; WISHED PRIMARILY TO ATTAIN THIS
PURPOSE -- AND ACCORDING TO THE SIGNS FE, I.E. ITS HIGH-RNti+KI'G
SUPPORTERS, SUCCEEDED TO OBTAIN AT LEAST THE POSTPOidEN ENT OIF THE
DEFINITE DECISION -- THAT THEIR PROBLEMS SHOULD BE RANKED WITH
THESE "EXCEPTIONS".
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THE COUNCILS OF THE FREE EU'RIOAD . IS STITUiE AND THE FREE EUROPE
FOUNDATION STEPPED INTO ACTON AND SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERN. ENT
COMMITTEE FORMIED FOR THE CON R O L OF "COVERT ACTIVITIES- A PROPO-
SITION OF THREE POINTS I N WHICH THEY POINTED OUT THAT "THE FURTHER
EXISTENCE OF RFE AND THE EEPING OF ITS P IVA,TE CHARACTER IS
ABSOLUTELY DESIRABLE,. AS IS THE OFFIC Al RECOGNITION OF
NECESSARY GO VERNi, E J T SUPPORT TO BE O FF E ?RED TO IT."
THE THREE SOLUTIONS: RFE VILL GO ON OPERATING IN ITS PRESENT
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FORM; RFE'S TRANSFER TO THE SPHERE OF AUTHORITY OF THE USIA (AN
AMERICAN GOVERMENT. OFFICE DEADLING WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE)
AND FINALLY THE LIQUIDATION OF RFEG IN THE VIEW OF THE DIRECTORS
ONLY THE FIRST PROPOSITION CAN BE CONSIDERED. NATURALLY THEY
DO NOT WANT TO NEAR ABOUT THE LIQUIDATION OF RFE, ON THE OTHER
HAND THEY DECLARE THAT, ".... THE PLACING OF RFE I N THE SPHERE
OF AUTHORITY OF THE USIA WOULD BE EQUAL TO ITS LIQUIDATION'S"
AND "WOULD RESULT IN THE SPEEDY TERiI`JAT IONN OF THE ORGANIZATION
AND ITS ACTIVITIES."
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THE OP OSLtiS OF THE FYI YrY o'tia }g~ a'.%,.1?L' ii IN A SUi'iPRR.IS.Ii:vLY /ZTLRl-
MINED TONE TO THE FACT THAT "DiSCONTE IT WOULD MANE FELT ITS EFFECT
PRIMARILY IN THE UNITED STATES." AND `"liE N THEY ENUt4ERATE :i+HO
WAS AND IS SUPPORTING THEM: "PRIVATE SUPPORTERS: THOSE WHO PAR-
TICIPATE PERSONALLY IN THE SUPPORT OF R FIE AD TRY TO CONVINCE
AMERICAN PUBLIC OPINION, THEIR FRIENDS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATES
AND VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE PRIVATE CHARACTER OF RFE
IS A DECISIVE FACTOR IN ITS SUCCESS. AMONG THESE ARE PRESIDENTS
TRUMAN, EISENHOWER, KENNEDY AND JOHNSON; MINISTERS (SIC) DULLES,
HERTER AND MCELROY, GENERALS CLAY, NO*%STAD AND GRUENTHER AS
,WELL AS FORrER UNDER SECRETARIES OF STATE (AT PRESENT COUNCIL
MEMBERS) ROSWELL GILPAT-RICO ROBERT LIVINGSTON MERCHANT.
SEVERAL HUNDRED LEADERS OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF THE LARGER
CORPORATIONS o.. GENERALLY SPEAXIN G THESE ARE ESSENTIALLY THE
SAME PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT SUBSTANTIALLY THE A ERICAN POLICY IN
THE VIETNAM QUESTION AND WHO FORM A BASIS FOR THE DETE MINED
CONSTRUCTIVE APPLICATION OF THE OREI.G. POLITICAL LINE. THE FEELING
OF BETRAYAL WHICH, IS-UNDOUBTEDLY AROUSED IN THEM TIGHT RESULT IN
DESTROYING CONSEQUENCES BECAUSE OF THE UNEXPECTED DECREASE IN
RFE'S PRIVATE CHARACTER AND E'FECTIVENESS."
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MORE .,IN A MINUTE...
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THIS MEMORANDUM DATED THREE YEARS AGO ALSO REFLECTS THE
FEAR -- WHICH U%*DERSTANDABLy HAS 1:'OR AS D -- :.'HAT SOO ?E.R OR
LATER THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES `r-ARSORs u RFC ti ILL GET
TIRED O
THE EXISTENCE OF RFE BASES WHICH PUT THEIR SOVERE.I.G-.N TY I JTO A
STRANGE LIGHT. A CHANGE IN THE SITUATION, COULD Iii UCE THE INTERESTED
EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS TO CARRY OUT CHANGES ALSO IN THE STATUS RFE
ENJOYS IN THEIR COUNTRIES. THIS FEAR S REFLECTED IN THE SUM-
MARY: IF RFE WOULD =BECOME A SUBSIDIARY COMPANY TO THE USIA OR
THE 'VOICE OF AMERICA' IT WOULD GREATLY AGGRAVATE RFE'S FUNC-
TIONING OUTSIDE THE FRONTIERS OF THE U'WITED STATES: 1,l `WEST
GERMANY AND PORTUGAL* IN THIS CASE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TA(E
INTO THEIR OWN HANDS THE MATTERS OF PERMITS FOR BROADCASTINC9
THE LEASE AGREEMENTS OF THE TERRITORIES AND THE DETEPY,11NATION OF
FREQUENCIES WHICH THEY APPLY FOR THEIR OWN USE OR OWN INTEREST."
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THUS: "THE PRIVATE CHt;% rCYER: O !"FE _3Y B i A l NIT `E D BY ALL
,~. ,_, ol~wy ,~ Y LL
MEANS. *ANY KIND OF SOLUTION CCULD BE E F=ECTIV2 WHICH DOZZS NOT
REQUIRE DECISIVE CHANGES IN THE PRESENT FI'dANCIg$ SYSTET! ANDY
WON'T EFFECT ITS SOCIAL STAiT S.N THE SUBSEQUENT EVENTS -- NO
ESSENTIAL MEASURE-,, S [1L TANE -- PROVE HAT UNDER THE PRESSURE
OF EASTLAi D, DIRXSEN AND OT ?ERS -- DES?ITE THE KATZENBACX PRO-
POSAL -- THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION DID NOT MAKE A DECISION
IN THE CASE OF Ra" E AND LEFT TYE WHOLE tA! TER TO THE NIXON
ADMINISTRATION, THE JEW 0 ERICAN '''R ESID NT WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN.
GRATEFUL TO HIS PREDECESSOR FOR A SOLUTION. IN ANY CASE --
THIS CUSTOM WAS BROUGHT INTO ;-HONO j ALREADY BY EISENHOWER --
SHORTLY AFTER HE TOOK OFFICE HE WROTE .A LETTER TO THE LEADERS
OF RFE IN WHICH HE HAS POI14 TED OUT 'I' NAT, IN HIS OPINION 'RFE
CARRIES OUT AN ESTREMELY USEFUL ACTIVITY: ?" HOtJEVERs THE CO :RES-
PONDENTS OF RADIO FOUND IT PECULIAR THAT THE PHOTOCOPY OF THE
NIXON LETTER -- CONTRARY TO THE LET TER OF WELCOME OF 114,71S PREDE-
CESSOR -- HAS NOT--BEEN SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC, BUT ONLY EXCERPTS CF
THE LETTER HAVE- BEEN MADE PUBLIC. MANY PEOPLE OBJECTED TO Tai"S,
SAYING THAT EXACTLY IN THE CURRENT UNSTABLE SITUATION THE PUBLI-
CATION OF THE LETTER WOULD HAVE A REAL SURING EFFECT ON THE MOOD
OF THE PEOPLE WORKING THERE. OTHER PEOPLE THINK THAT NIXON'S
MESSAGE WAS NOT PROCLAIMED FROM. THE HOUSETOPS PURPOSELY BECAUSE
NIXON WOULD MAKE A FOOL OF HIMSELF IN CASE RFE MAY MOVE AFTER
ALL. NEVERTHELESS THE LETTER WAS EVALUATED IN A WAY THAT THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT -- IN THE COURSE OF THE NEGOTIATION OF THE
QUESTION -- WILL DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE
CONTRACT.
THE MUNICH PROGLEN
WELL, IT MUST BE NEGOTIATED. IT IS HARDLY COMPATIBLE WITH
THE "NEW EAST POLICY" OF THE WILLY BRA: ,DT ~3OVERNMENNT THAT MUNICH
SHOULD BE THE HOME OF THE CIA RADIO STATIONS DISGUISED AS RADIO
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... :. ... ,.a ..'/1 :.. :-: .. ., :..Lu .`. ., :i:./..V -..i.:. `::. r.. .......v .iS ...V 'JL ....r,,_. .. .. L..:SV ... w7
CONSIDER MORE AND MORE D3UZYFLL THE C'r` w4ED MAINTENANCE OF THE
POSITION OF RFE. IT IS TRUE ?T'1 A,T IN 1f11 SPITE OF THE
PRESSURE OF INTERNATIONAL P LT LIC OP!NiO w NO EFFECTIVE INTER-
VENTION HAS BEEN DECIDED UP3 YET. T E F'ER FOR ANCE OF SENATOR CASE
HAS AGAIN REFERRED, TO THE F.: ;T THAT TV "-7v BY ~'0 ~ EANS P.SL-
COM lUNIST BUT BY ALL MEATS SENSIBLE, AfiERRiCAt POLITICIANS WANT
TO FARESTALL THE MUNICH THE P AU 3 AND 3LE 1 3 YJN1 A RYIN'G TO PBZVVNTT THE
1~'`2 z
t~ ~[pp~~~m ~y ~~qq g~ ? 1ti Y ~L:~
SHARPENING OF H QUES IC i`ro -{N AL ~i7 ii3AB !L TTY TXE PEOPLE AT R FE
WORK AGAIN ON NEW SUN''AMARIES TO DEFER AGAIN THE DECISION WHICH HAVE
COME TO THE FRONT IN THE SENATE OVER THREE YEARS AGO. THERE IS
NO DOUBT, HOWEVER, THAT AN INCREASING "'UMBER CF PEOPLE IN THE.
AMERICAN OFFICIAL QUARTERS ARE OF THE,OPINION THAT THE '?ADVr-.N:TAGE"
OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NUS??CH SPY STATION FOR THE "WESTERN
WORLD" IS LESS AND LESS PROPORTIO'1AL TO THE IMMENSE BURDEN t'HICH
THIS MAINTENANCE REPRESENTS.
(THE ARTICLE REPRODUCES A PICTURE OF THE TWO LETTERS WITH THE
FOLLOWING CAPTIOi "ABOVE: LETTER OF SENATOR EASTLAND9 PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE'S JUDICIARY COM-1ITTEE. URITTEN ON 17 NOVEMBER 19679
IN WHICH HE PROTESTS AGAINST T,4Z. PLAN' TO LIQUIDATE RFE. UNDERNEATH:
JOHN RICHARDSON JR. DI RECTOR OF RADIO FREE EUROPE, IN tWH ICH HE
THANKS EASTLAND FOR THE "GE'NNEROUS AND SUCCESSFUL INTERVENTION."
END OF ARTICLE.
IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT RADIO MOSCOW DOMESTIC (AT 0700 AND
1100 HOURS), RADIO MOSCOW 10 SLOVAI( (AT 1300 HOURS) AND RADIO
HVEZDA IN CZECH (AT 1430 HOURS) HAVE ALL CARRIED SUMMiARIZAT IONS
OF THE PRAVDA ARTICLE ONi RFE AND LIBERTY TODAY (FEBRUARY 9),
ALSO AUSTRIAN RADIO BROADCAST AN ITEM ON THE PRAVDA ARTICLE
IN ITS 1200 HOURS NEWSCAST, i1HICH IT IS ASSUMED WAS BASED ON
Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP72-00337R000500270061-8
UPI STORY.