DEPARTMENT OF STATE FOREIGN INFORMATION POLICY GUIDANCES - PURPOSES AND PROCEDURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000500120043-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2001
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: October 20, 1950
• Content Type: REGULATION

80-01 065A000 0120043-3
Ii. U-1 aIC 'EP
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
POLICY ADVISORY STAFF
October 20, 1950
Infpr_aat ora Po? iGuidzn~ 13 o Pxe endrocdu
Foreign Information Policy Guidances prepared by the
Department of State are designed primarily to provide necessary
background and policy guidance to enable U. S, government
Information media and U. S. missions to interpret and implement
foreign information policy in a manner that will contribute
effectively to the achievement of U.S, foreign policy objectives.
Information Policy Guidances are distributed toy
lp State Department media, including the Voice
of America, engaged in disseminating foreign
~} /information.
2b Other departments and agencies with an
interest in foreign information aetivitieso
including the Department of Defense,
Departments of Army, Navy, and Air Force,
the Central Intelligence Agency and the
Economic Cooperation Administration.
3n U.S? missions abroad0
Information Policy Guidances are utilized in the preparation
of radio commentaries? news and comment In radio broadcasts? nc Asa
summaries sent to U.S. missions abroad, statements and speeches
by government officials for the guidance of officers and parti ou-
larly information officers in U0SQ missions abroad and the
guidance of U.S.-sponsored broadcasts in other countries o
The kinds of Information Policy Guidances now used have
evolved from experience which dates back to war-time operations
of the U. S. Office of War Information. Since there is some
question whether these guidances are as well adapted as they migh";
be to the present situation, a study ,is now under way to de aerin1n ;
the most effective form these guidances can take. Pending com-
pletion of this study, the Information policy guidances 'wi.ll
continue to follow the following pattern,
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1, Overnight Guidances - Designed to guide the fast
information media in the treatment of current news developments,
Such guidance is ordinarily within the framework.of established
policy, and is provided by the State Department geographic desk
concerned with a particular news development, Clearance with
other areas of the Department and coordination with other govern-
gent departments and agencies is necessary only when a new policy
decision or interpretation is required. In cases where it is
required, P/POL undertakes to effect such clearance and coordina-
tion. In cases where military interests are concerned, this
coordination with the, Service departments is achieved directly
through the Joint Subsidiary Plans Division (JSPD) of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff (JCS), which in turn assumes responsibility for
whatever coordination may be required among the separate Services.
If P/POL is unable to reach the responsible JSPD officer, or if
this officer is unable to obtain comments by 54600 p.m., P/POL
determines whether the guidance shall be issued on its. own
responsibility,
2. Weekly Guidances ? Designed primarily to inform UOS,
missions abroad of the ways in which certain current or immediatei.Y
upcoming developments are to be interpreted. The Weekly Guidance
is drafted in P/POL Tuesday morning and is considered by the
P/POL Staff (with a representative of JSPD participating) In a
meeting usually held around noon Tuesday. The guidance is then
revised and circulated Tuesday afternoon to the geographic and
functional areas of the Department of State and to- other depart-
ments and agencies through the Interdepartmental Foreign
Information Staff (IFIS); (Copies for the Service departments
are circulated by the JSPD representative or are picked up by
special messenger from HIS Tuesday afternoon) Comments of other
departments and agencies are submitted to the IFIS representative
who presents them at the Policy Information Committee Meeting
at 2230 Wednesdays at which time the Weekly Guidance is approved
for immediate transmission overseas, Other IFIS members may
present their views at this meeting if they wish.,
3. Long-range Special Guidances Designed to guide foreign
information operators in the handling of special subjects or
situations. These guidances are prepared by P/POL and circulated
to regional and functional bureaus of the Department of State
for departmental clearance and are circulated through IFIS for
the comments of other departments and agencies. Except in cases
where it is urgent that such a guidance be issued immediately,
other departments and agencies have five days in which to con-
alder the guidance and to prepare their comments, In the urgent
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cases, other departments and agencies, as well as the regional
and functional bureaus of the Department of State, are given as
much time as possible to consider and comment upon the guidances.
4o Fast Special Guidances (such as the series of Special
Information Policy Guidances on Korea) - Designed to guide media
operators and U.S. missions abroad in the handling of news
growing out of an urgent situation. The Special Guidances on
Korea, as an eFample, have had to be handled on a "rush" basis
beoause of the nature of the developing situation in Korea.
Since time was limited, these guidances have been cleared only
with the areas of the Department of State which were directly
concerned, usually with FE and UNA, and have ordinarily been
coordinated with the Service departments through JSPD rather than
through IFIS.in order to expedite military, reactions. Whenever
possible, military advisors from IFIS or JSPD have participated
in the preparation of these guidances and one guidance was pre-
pared in the Korean Working Group. When time permits, the Fast
Special Guidances will be cleared and coordinated in the same way
as the Long-range Special Guidances referred to in paragraph 3.
Incases where there is inadequate time for this procedure, the
guidances will be coordinated with JSPD, which will undertake
also to coordinate with the separate Services within a defined
time limit. In cases where no comments are received within that
time.limit, the guidance will be distributed forthwith. (On the
basis of a decision by the Chief of JSPD, following consultation
with the separate Services,, JSPD would assume the responsibility
for Department of Defense comments, if unable for any reason to
secure comments for the separate Services.)
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FORM NO. 51.8
SEP 1946
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