A QUESTIONABLE BASIS FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2013
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 23, 1958
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
THE LW ADAILLLO LAAFUNLM uctooer IY)0
-
A Questionable Basis for Foreign Relations
By Fulton Lewis Jr.
There was one disturbingly sour note in the evolution of events
leading up to Secretary Dulles' present mission of reassurance to
Chiang Kai-shek in Formosa.
It was a dispatch from Taipei, regarding a statement by the
official spokesman for the Nationalist government foreign ministry,
Dr. Kiang Yi-seng, about a New York Times editorial of October 16,
which urged that the Nationalist offshore islands of Quemoy and
Matsu be turned over to the Communists.
Dr. Kiang told reporters:
"Naturally, we are very concerned over the Times editorial
because of the weight of any opinion expressed by that newspaper."
It was given wide circulation in the Formosan press, but little
if any in this country. This is unfortunate because the statement
points up a dangerous infestation of cultism with which the entire
U. S. foreign policy determination process is becoming involved.
As a newspaper, the New York Times admittedly is a worthy and
commendable publication. This, however, does not bestow any omni-
science--and certainly no omnipotence--upon the individuals who
devise the editorial policy of the newspaper, nor upon those liter-
ary architects who peck out the hawkings of its editorial columns.
There is no special bestowal of Divine guidance upon my esteemed
colleague, Arthur Krock, nor upon Publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger.
A Dangerous Myth
Yet this, in effect, is the myth that the Foreign Service
fraternity, ever susceptible to fad-ism, is in the course of
manufacturing.
In Munich, recently, I inspected the news-gathering facilities
of Radio Free Europe. Here each morning for one hour, a special
leased teletype line from New York City transmits the news and
views oftthe New York Times and the New York Herald Tribune, parti-
cularly the musings of their pundits. The Europe editions of these
two publications are clipped chily, as if from Holy Writ. Other
leading American newspapers are ignored.
Declassified and Approved For Release ? 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
,
-2-
Practice Spreading
This same system pervades, also, the operations of the United
States Information Agency and the field informational functions of
the State Department Foreign Service.
Thusj in the end, it is through the peculiar intellectual
grist-mill of the editors of the New York Tines and the New York
Herlad Tribune that's ground the sustenance upon which American
foreign relations must live.
And because this is the doctrine of the American personnel
who have daily personal contact with other governments in the con-
tinuing business of diplomatic intercourse, the myth is transmitted
to them, also. It is a myth that somehow, Er. Sulzberger and his
particular troupe of trained seals are all-knowledgeable and some-
how unaffected by the collateral interests.
Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
1-05
hir:p r; .P./AAAIRIErt. ?71-1 ine.1- 534
Declassified and Approved For Release @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28 : CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2
A Questionable Basi,s
1 or Foreign Relatioits
4 ?
By Fulton Lewis Jr.
'WASHINGTON, 'Oct. 22.
.TIMRE Was one disturbinglpsour note in
the evolution of events leading up to
Secretary Dulles' present mission of reas-
surance to Chiang Kal-sttek fri Formosa.'
.. It was a dispatch from Taipei, regard-
Ing a statement by the official spokesman
for the Nationalist government foreign
.ministry, Dr. Kiang Yieng, about a New
York TiMes editorial of Octobenla, which
urged that the NationaliSt offshore islands
? of Quemoy and Ma= be turned over to
the Communists.
Dr. Kiang told re',
porters:
"Naturally, we are
very concerned over
the Times editorial
because of the Weight
of any opinion ex-
pressed by that 'news-
paper." -
It was given wide
circulation in the For-
mosan press, but little
if any in this country.
This Is' unfortunate
? because the statement
. points up a dangerous
rouron LEWIS IL infestation of cultism
with which the entire J. S. foreign policy
? determination process Is becoming In-
volved.
' As a newspaper, the New York' 'limes
? admittedly is a worthy and commendable
?
publication. ? This, however, does not be-
stow any omniscience?and certainly no
omnipotence?upon the individuals who
. devise the editorial policy of the news-
paper, nor upon those literary architects
who peek out the hawkings of its editorial
columns.
There is no special bestowal of Divine
guidance upon my esteemed colleague,
Arthur .1{rock, nor upon Publisher Arthur
Hays Sttlzberger.
A Dangerous Myth
Yet this, in effect, is the Myth that the
Foreign Service fraternity, ever suscepti-
ble to fad-lam, is in the course of Manu-
facturing.
In Munich, recently, I inspected the
news-gathering facilities of Radio 'Free
Europe. Here each morning, for one hour,
a special leased teletype line from New
York City transmits the news and views
ol the New York Tunes and the New York
Herald Tribune, particularly the musings
of their pundits. The Europe editions of
these two publications are clipped daily,
as if from Holy Writ. Other leading
American newspapers are ignored.
Prarliee Spreading
This same system pervades, also, the
operations of the United States Informs-
VS e-field--int-or-rszttmal-- - - ?
functions of the State Department For-
eign Service.
Thus, in .the end, it is through the
peculiar intellectual grist-mill of the edi-
tors of the New York timeaand the New
York Harald Tribune that's ground the
rustananoe upon which A1fltriC1111 foreign
,rlations must live.
And because this is the doctrine of the
American personnel who have daily per-
sonal contact with other governments in
the continuing business of diplomatic
Intercourse, the myth is transmitted to
them. also. It is a myth that somehow,
Mr. Sulzberger and his particular troupe
of trained seals are all-knowledgeable and
somehow unaffected by the collateral
interests.
(0,p7igtg. 1131. KW roma tiodkata. br)
(Listen to Fulton Lewis Jr. dant, at
4 p. in. and p. m. on KIM Don Lee.)
0
r ..5 .
DeclaissifieCi4anCIAPPrOV'ecFilitItle-Le @ 50-Yr 2013/10/28: CIA-RDP74-00297R000900080006-2