LETTER TO GENERAL WALTER B. SMITH FROM CHARLES E. JOHNSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003200010017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2005
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 5, 1952
• Content Type: LETTER

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ADDRESS OFFICIAL COMAplproved For Release 20 1fj :,Q&KQ OR01731 R003200010017-2
THE DIRECTOR OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25. D. C.
3952
General Walter B. Smith
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D. Co
My dear General Smiths
I an enclosing a copy of the Plan for Conducting
Psychological Operations During General Hostilities,,
approved by the Psychological Strategy Board at its
Peting on February 21i 1952, together with a copy of
I I memorandum to the Executive Secretary of
the National Security Council transmitting a copy of
the Plan.
For the Director:
:40
Executive Off, .cer
Plan for Conducting Psychological Operations
During General Hostilities.
Memorandum to the Executive Secretary of the
National Security Council dated Feb. 29,
1952 frol
NSC review(s) completed.
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February 29, 1952
MEMORANDUM FOR THE EXECUTIVE SECRETJ'.RY OF THE
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL,
Subjects Plan for Conducting Psychologipal Operations During
General Hostilities.
References: Memorandum for NSC from Executive Secretary., same
subject, dated July 23, 1951;
Memorandum for Director, ?SB, from Executive Secretary,
NSC, sank: subject, dated July 23, 1951.
The Psychological Strategy Board approved a plan on the
above subject at its meeting on February 21, 1952, after
incorporating therein changes proposed by the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, Two copies of the approved plan are forwarded here-
with,.
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Copy No. 40
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRI TEGY BOARD
Tashington 25, D. C.
26 February 1952
PLAN FOR CONDUCTING PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS
during
GENERAL HOSTILITIES
This Paper Was Approved
By the
Psychological Strateg=,y Board
on 21 February 1952
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PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
Washington 25, D. C.
26 February 1952
PLAN FOR CONDUCTING PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS
during
(Code Name:
Reference: (a) Presidential Secret Directive of !t April 1951
Establishing a Psychological Strategy Board
(b) NSC 10/2.
(c) NSC 10/5.
(d) N$C 20/4.
(e) NSC 59/1.
I. MISSION
To conduct psychological operations in pursuance of prescribed
national objectives during general hostilities.
T.I. DEFINITIONS
Within the purview of this plan the following definitions shall
apply:
a. PSYCHOLOGICAL OPERATIONS: Shall include all activities
(other than overt types of economic warfare) envisioned under NSC 59/1
and 10/2.
b. MILITARY THEATER OF OPERATIONS: A so entitled, geographically
delimited, and competently :proclaimed portion of a theater of war
necessary for military operations, either offensive or defensive,
pursuant to an assigned mission, and for the administration incident to
such military operations.
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c. TO COORDINATE: This expression means that agencies
"coordinated with" shall participate actively; that their concurrence
shall be sought; and that it' concurrence is not obtained, the disputed
matter shall be referred to the next higher authority in which all
participants have a voice.
III. l;SSUMPTION
That the United States and its Allies are engaged in general
hostilities forced upon them by the USSR or any of its satellites.
IV. NATIONAL OBJECTIVES WHICH WILL MAINTAIN IN A
CONDITION OF OENEI.AL HOSTILITIES
During a condition of general hostilities United States national
objectives vis-a-vis the USSR will be, unless modified by appropriate
authority, as set forth in Paragraph 19 of NSC 20/4;
"To counter the threats to our national security and well-being
posed by the USSR, our general objectives with respect to Russia, in
time of peace as well as in time of war, should be:
"a. To reduce the power and influence of the USSR to limits
which no longer constitute a threat to the peace, national
independence and stability of the world family of nations.
"b. To bring about a basic change in the conduct of inter-
national relations by the government in power in Russia,
to conform with the purposes and principles set forth in
the UN Charter.
"In pursuing these objectives due care must be taken to avoid
permanently impairing our economy and the fundamental values and
institutions inherent in our way of life."
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V. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OPERATIONS
1. Psychological operations programs are established instruments
of national policy and shall, therefore, be consistent with and
directed toward the achievement of national objectives.
2. As appropriate, psychological operations and policies and
plans pertaining thereto shall be coordinated with similar operations,
policies and plans of our Allies.
VI. DELIN-1.' TION OF PESPONSTRTLITIES
1. The Psychological St:'at?gy Board shall be responsible for:
,a) the formulation and promulgation, as guidance to the departments
and agencies responsible for psychological operations, of over-all
national psychological objectives, policies and programs, (b) the
coordination and evaluation of the national psychological effort.
2, The Joint Chiefs of Staff, in conformity with established
national policy and Psychological Strategy Board guidance, and except
as provided in paragraphs VI 4 and VI K immediately below, shall be
responsible for planning and execution of. U.S. psychological operations
in military theaters of operations.
3. The Department of State, in conformity with established
national policy and Psychological Strategy Board guidance, and except
as provided in paragraph VI 4 immediately below, shall be responsible
for the planning and execution of U.S. overt psychological operations
in areas other than military theaters of operations.
lt. In situations in which a military theater of operations
embraces territory of a government which exercises civil authority and
to which a U.S. diplomatic mission is accredited, in conformity with
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established national policy and Psychological Strategy Board guidance,
the Department of State shall. be responsible for the U.S. Information
Program directed toward the nationals of the country concerned.
5. Covert psycho:Lot7ical operations shall be planned, conducted,
and coordinated in accordance with established national policies;
applicable NBC directives, including but not limited to NSC 10/2 and
pertinent portions of NSC 10/5 and NSG 59/1; and the President's
Directive of 4 April 1951 establishing the Psychological Strategy Board,
6. Overt psychol:)gJtcal operations originating in areas other
than military theaters of operations shall be coordinated with the
Joint Chiefs of Staff when such operations will directly affect approved
strategic plans or strategic direction of military forces.
7. Psychological operations originating in military theaters
of operations shall be coordinated with the Department of State in
cases where such operations will have a direct effect outside the
military theater of operations upon approved current or projected diplo-
matic action or overt ps;;rchological operations of that Department.
8. The Psychological Strategy Board shall ensure, through the
government agency or agencies appropriate in the instant circumstances,
any necessary coordination of national psychological operations,
policies, or plans with the appropriate agency or agencies of other
governments,
9. The Joint Chiefs of Staff shall be responsible for any
necessary coordination of U.S. psychological operations with similar
operations of other governments in military theaters of operations.
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10. The Department of State shall be responsible for any
necessary coordination of U.S. psychological operations with similar
operations of other governments outside military theaters of operations.
11. All government departments and agencies which are not else-
where mentioned in this plan and which are or may be assigned responsibil-
ities for executing psychological operations outside the U.S. shall:
a. Adhere to guidance issued by the Psychological Strategy Board.
b. Coordinate their policies and plans with the Joint Chiefs of
staff for activities in military theaters of operations and with the
Department of State in areas other than military theaters of operations.
co Conduct their operations in the field under the U.S. Military
Commander designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in military theaters
of operations and coordinate their operations in the field with the
chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission in areas other than military
theaters of operations,
12. The Central Intelligence Agency shall ensure that appropriate
intelligence support is provided for U.S. psychological operations and
that intelligence activities of government departments and agencies in
this field are properly coordinated.
VII. O11G)ANI7ATIONAL PRINCIPLES
Information facilities and appropriate personnel of the Department
of State and other overt executing agencies in areas which become
military theaters of operations shall be made available to the U.S.
Military Commander designated by the Joint Chiefs of Staff in that
theater under statutory and other competent authority during the approx-
imate time of military control in that area, Plans for orderly transfer,
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and later return, of information facilities and appropriate personnel
of the Department of State and other overt executing agencies shall be
coordinated by the Psychological Strategy Board.
VIII. PLANNING AND EXECUTION
1. This basic national psychological operations plan is in
effect for planning purposes. All government departments and agencies
having responsibilities specifically assigned herein shall, as a matter
of high priority, draft supporting plans and make all preparations
necessary for efficient execution of the provisions herein contained.
2t This plan shall be executed upon Presidential proclamation
that a state of general hostilities exists with the USSR and its
satellites, upon official declaration of war with the USSR and its
satellites, or at such other time as the President may direct.
3. Provisions of this plan, when executed in accordance with
paragraph 2 above, supersede any portion of NSC 59/1 which is in con-
flict therewith?
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