MEMORANDUM FOR: DIRECTOR PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD FROM CLAYTON FRITCHEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020020-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2005
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: February 13, 1952
• Content Type: MF

JCS and NSC review(s) completed.
OSD REVIEW COMPb3PFed For Release 2006/03/17: CIA-RDP80R01731R003200020020-7
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L
Security Information
COZY 70..,......,.-...
Feb uary 13, 1052
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director
Psychological Strategy Board
,L .1'
T'i1.T3 : Assistant Director, office of Plans and Policy
1. The Weapons Information Guidar,.:e Commt.ttee has completed its
trrri , as 3reL3c:,ib-d in the Ter:1s o:." i,.'fars=?.;'??~ J?r.v ry 1952, subLect,
?T.: e f Reference for PSB Weapons Infor.. -iation U~:i i..r..;: O`o;^ur.itt~p,
t t) tt
2. Forwarded herewith are the following papers, which were u_^ pared
by the committee:
a. Draft Memorandum for: Executive Secretary, National
Security Council (Tab "A")
b. Draft prototype covering Presidential Letter (Tab "B")
c. Draft enclosure, to Presidential Letter, "Memorandum on
Public Statemerrts With Respect to Certain American Weapons."
(Tab "C").
In addition to preparing the above papers, the committee also
3.
inquired into the desirability of creating new clearance machinery for
the subject statements. The committee concluded that existing procedures
are adequate., and that the establishment of new machinery at the NBC or
PSB level would be improper,, inasmuch as neither agency is designed to
deal with day-to-day matter's of operational dete,il,
However, the committee recom.-ended that it remain subject to
call of the chairman fog periortir. revision of its guidances for public
statements with respect, t-1 'these e~:tain American weapons.
4. The ^..om, ' tee ?x?miuerl a list of s' ci:f'i.c "do's" and "don t is",
as a possible enciosu-^? to th memoran(l.um. at Tab C, The committee con-
?u,.ee that such a liflt rould not be suitable, inns iu h a, rcnditions
va:_y too much to justify establish Lng set of general principles.
Approved For Release 20056 a I
I
QB~q 731 R003200020020-7
[!NFIDENTIAL Page 1of 2Page.,
 Approved For Release 2006/03/17 CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Security Information
5. The committee recommends that when PSB has approved Tab "C"
and noted Tab "B", the memorandum attached at Tab "A" be transmitted to
the Executive Secretary, NSC for action. Inform). advice from the NBC
secretariat indicates that if the memorandum has already received the
s.pxroval of PSB, plus that of the other interested departments (in this
insttance the Atomic Energy Co:rnission and the Federal. Civil Defense
Administration), the memorandum can be put before a meeting of the NBC
without requiring reference to the Senior NSC staff: or other NBC staff
machinery.
Clayton Fritchey
Director, OPI
Office, Secretary of Daf,:~nce
Chairman
Security Information Pape 2 of 2 Pages
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
^. nNFIDENT'.
 D R A F T Security Information
7 Vebruary 1952
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
L?17,VApproved For Release 2~0F~03k17F: DrP?QF 01731 R003200020020-7 ' .2
MEMORANDU14 FOR: Executive Secretary
National Security Council
TAB 9A""
SUBJECT: PSB Action on Publicity With Respect to Certain American Weapons
1, A series of conflicting statements made last Fall by high officials
of the Executive Branch of the government produced considerable public con-
fusion as to the facts concerning our atonic and related developments, They
raised doubts as to the degree of unity and confidence within the govern-
ment on the purposes of these weapons, Particularly, they gave rise to
considerable fears abroad, as to U.S, intensions with respect to the use of
these weapons,
2. For these reasons, the Psychological Strategy Board at its 11th
meeting, October 25, 1951, directed the preparation of a staff study on the
problem. At its seventh meeting, December 20, 1951, acting on the recom-
mendations contained in the staff study, PSB created a committee chaired
by the Director, Office of Public Information, Department of Defense, to
prepare a "national information policy" on the subject,
3. It was agreed at the senior NSC Staff Meeting of November 19, 1951
to refer to PSB for appropriate, action, in connection with this projebt, a
draft report by the NSC on "Release of Information Regarding New Weapons,"
dated July 5, 1950, action on which had not been completed.
1+, The attached memorandum, Subject, "Memorandum on Public Statements
With Respect to Certain American Weapons" has been prepared in response to
the above board action.
a. At its meeting, 1952 the Psychological
Strategy Board approved the memorandum, recommended that it be transmitted
to appropriate departments and agencies as an enclosure to a Presidential
directive (draft attached), and directed that its views be communicated to
Security Information Page 1 of 2 Pages
C 0 N F I D E N T I LL
Approved For Release 0U6/a3fl fl CIAO 89R01731 R003200020020-7
 Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Security Information
the Executive Secretary, NSC, The Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal
Civil Defense Administrator Joined in this approval and these recommendations.
b. The committee also examined the question of the adequacy of
speech clearance machinery as it relates to statements covering these
weapons. It concluded that the machinery created within departments and
agencies in response to the Presidential directive of 5 December 1950,
"Public Discussion of Foreign and Military- Policy," should be used for the
enforcement of the attached memorandum rather than that a new clearance pro-
cedure should be established.
FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD:
R. B. ALLEN
Director
Security-Information Page 2 of 2 Pages
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
 PSB D-17d/.&
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
TAB "B"
THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington
'Prototype for all
Departments
The Honorable
Dean G. Acheson
Secretary of State
Department of State
Dear Mr. Acheson:
I am forwarding to you a memorandum, subject "Public State-
ments With Respect to Certain American Weapons," which is de-
signed to assist you and members of your department in addressing
the American public on matters concerning our recent developments
with respect to certain American weapons.
I desire that you bring, the contents of this memorandum to
the attention of key officials of your department, and elicit
their full cooperation in carrying out its intent.
Sincerely,
Harry S. Truman
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
 P8- 17 /zcv,
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R0l731 R003200020020-7~ .1
D R A F T C O N F I D E N T I A L
7 February 1952
Security Information
MEMORANDUM ON
PUBLIC STATE! NTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN AMERICAN WEAPONS
The fact of American atomic superiority undoubtedly has a deterrent
effect on Soviet leaders. Whether unconsidered statements about atomic and
other new weapons produce any significant deterrent effect on the Kremlin
may be doubted.
While well-considered statements on atomic and other new weapons can
develop confidence in the determination and strength of the U.S, and the
rest of the free world, ill-considered statements on these subjects can be
used by the Soviet-led Communists to encourage a belief that the U.S.
might use these weapons in a reckless, irresponsible way.
Within the U.S. itself, 5.11-considered statements about these weapons
may create a false sense of security, lead to expectation of miracles in
war and possibly jeopardize the maintenance of a balanced defense program
both military and civil.
It follows that we must be extremely careful in our public statements
about atomic weapons,. The same applies to guided missiles., and btrILogical..
radiological and chemical weapons.
Before statements and releases on atomic and other new weapons are
made, these questions should be answered:
1. Will this information strengthen the morale of the free
world?
2, Will this statement at this time help the American public to
understand and accurately appraise the capabilities of these
3.
weapons?
Will this statement create the fear that the U,S,, may act
recklessly in the use of these weapons?
Security Information Page I of 2 Pages
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
 Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7
C O N F I D E N T I A L
------------
Security Information
In the months ahead, as new developments in these weapons transpire,
we must so present that information to the world as to buttress the
confidence of the free world, in America's sense of responsibility for
the maintenance of the peace, as well as of the fundamental values of the
West.
NOTE: Statements prepared in pursuance to this memorandum shall
be cleared in conformity to the President's Directive of
5 December 1950, "Public Discussion of Foreigm and Military
Policy," It is understood also that statements dealing
with atomic weapons developments should be cleared with the
Atomic Energy Comrmiission.
Security Information Page 2 of 2 Pages
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L
Approved For Release 2006/03/17 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003200020020-7