LETTER TO GENERAL WALTER BEDELL SMITH FROM RAYMOND B. ALLEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2005
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: February 19, 1952
• Content Type: LETTER

FiC*Ty INF
ADDRESS OFFICIM-&qpUhi2It f6q FGor Release 2006/03/17: CIA-RD 17''31F 2~ p0.04-5
THE DIRECTOR OF
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
FEB
General Walter Bedell Smith
Director of Central Inte,31-ic;ence
,lashington 25, D. C.
L' 1952
I am attaching a copy of a letter from Mr. Berger which sets
forth certain views of r. Harriman which grew out of the discussion
of PSB D-14/b, 25X1
at the last meeting. This letter should
be noted in connection Lid-th the consideration at Thursday's meeting
of the Under Secretary of State's written observations on this paper
submitted at the ninth meeting and included in the minutes of that
meeting;.
1,~ own thoughts are that I?tr. Webb's remarks, taken together with
Mr. Harriman's sug:est'Lons, present a desirable further explanation of
the above observations? in order to record this explanation, I suggest
that the Board adopt the fol.lowin.Y resolution based on Mr. Webb's and
Mr. Harriman's sug,;Eest'_ons:
"Resolved: The Board Is azuproval of PSB D-1h/b, as aiended,
is with the uriderstandinc! that the specific actions set
forth in that paper are permissive rather than mandatory,
and are to be carried out in the discretion of the Ambassador
and the Department of State. However, the fact that these
actions are ermis_
p ive in no way detracts from the Board's
position: first, that the continued strength of the Communist
movement 0 is a source of serious concern to the
United. States,, which it 'Intends to make clear to
Government at every appropriate occasion; second, that the
Sincerely yours,
Raymond B. Allen
Director
Enclosure: NSC review(s) completed.
(:opy of Ltr from I-Jr. Lerger
to Dr. Allen, dtd 2/12/52
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020004-5 /
25X1
25X1
iITY INFORMATION ;OFP SECRET
 Approved For Release 2006 17 tyW- P80RO1731 R003200020004-5
SEC iIY INFO NATON C
E>MUTIVS OFFICE OF THE PRF.4IDEHT P
Office of the Director for Mutual Security Y
Washington 25, D. Co
February 12, 1952
Mr. Raymond B. Allen
Director, Psychological Strategy Board
708 Jackson Place, B.W.
Washington, D. Co
Before Mr. Harriman left for Lisbon he discussed with me the
observations on PSB DrlJijb submitted to the January 31st Board meet-
ing by Mr., Webb* Since the next meeting of the Board may be held
before Mr. Harriman retuzns, I am sending you the views which he
expressed to me before leaving.
The wording of the first paragraph of these observations states
that the State Department is prepared to accept the report providing
it is regarded as a guidance and is permissive and not mandatory. If
all this is intended to convey is that the various courses of action
set out in the report are suggestive, he in in full agreement, The
Ambassador must have the right to decide which of the various courses
should be acted on as well as the timing, the way any action is to be
carried out, the degree of effort to be put behind it, etc., etc.
Mr. Harriman is afraid, however, that the wording of the first para-
graph of the observations might be taken to mean that the whole project
is permissive, which, of course, the State Department did not intend,
In the interests of further clarifications, he thinks it should also
be made a matter of record that with the adoption of this report the
U.S. Government not only recognizes that the continued strength of the
Casminist movement is a source of serious concern to us, but
lays down the polic that this concern, which has already been conveyed
to the should continue to be made clear to that
Gov_ A_L=W"U Utp ;~ oq,riate occasion; and that we continue to ask
the what plan of action they have in mind to deal with
this pro ems, or the main power and responsibility to correct this situ-
ation lies with them. All the other courses of action listed in the re-
A port should be permissive,, but this course of action, which is never
specifically indicated and only indirectly suggested in the report, should
be clearly established.
I would add that I have discussed these points with Mr. Walmeley of
the State Department and find there is full agreement between us.
Sincerely,
/s/ S. D. Berger
Approved For Release 2006/03/17: CIA-RDP80f0*5'000200t4,J
Assistant to WAHarrimax W
A
.
. armn
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Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020004-5