A STRATEGIC CONCEPT FOR THE NATIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL PROGRAM (PSB D-31)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003200040004-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 8, 2005
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: October 14, 1952
• Content Type: MF

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ADDRESS TOFFICIAL
HE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICAT1713lroved For Release `2 08#3/T1'~f -~'IA- 80R01 731 R003200040004-3
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
C.
WASHINGTON 29. D. C PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
OCT 14 1952
~fI?I`CIANfJUM FOR: General Walter Bedell Smith
Drector of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: A Strategic Concept for the National Psychological
Program (PSE D-31)
1. At its fifteenth meeting on September 11, 1952, the Board
agreed that, the subject paper is approved as soon as the comments
of the Department of Defense are received by the Director and agreed
to by the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Aggency.
2. Under date of October 6, 1952, I have received a mem.orandtm7.
containing the views of the Department of Defense. The Department
of Defense approves the paper subject to the following:
"a. That paragraph 1 in the recommendations be amended
to provide for progressive reduction as well as retraction,
of Soviet power and influence as -Provided in NSC 10/5 and
paragraph 2 of the subject paper.
"b. That paragraph 2 in the recommendations contain a
proviso to the effect that the paragraph is without prejudice
to those arrangements now in effect whereby a responsible
agency is to make preparations for activities after D-Day in
support of approved war plans.
"c. That acceptance of this concept is without prejudice
to later logistic feasibility testing by the Department of
Defense of specific courses of action which would require
logistic support of that _ie-c rtrrent,."
3. In addition to the changes quoted in paragraph 2 above,
the Department of Defense has brought to my attention the following
minor suggested changes:
Ira. ParaF.raph 'age 7, lir f : After 'active support
ofH add "Great Britain as well ast
.
"b. Para. raph l4d, page 8, lir_e_~ 1 of title: After F the
Soviet and B{,uropean' add 'satellite'.
If,. Paragraph 14e,
TOP SCET
Security Infor:;cation
NSC review(s) completed.
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Security Information
"d. Recommendation 2. xage9s line 23: After 'emphasis'
add 'in these operations'."
The Department cornerts that "these suggestions are for the most
part not of a substantive mature; would appear to have arisen from
editorial oversight; and are not considered to merit official discus-
sion." Hence they are advanced only as optional additional changes,
not as conditions for approval of PSB D-31.
4. The memorandum of October 6 also makes the following general
comments which I quote for our ir:formation:
"2. With regex to the paper as a whole it is noted that
the interim nature of the strategic concept requires its con-
sideration, in effect, as a L-trategic course of action based
upon present capabilities an(. efforts to develop additional
potentials. In any considere.tion of the specific actions out-
lined in paragraph 14, there is a tendency to recommend the
broadening of the conce it. l or example, the promising project
has led to the suggestion of an
enlargement of this program: `,o include similar action in any
or all of the satellite countries, an expansion however which
in view of existing conditions in those countries and limita-
tions in our present capabil.ties renders this unrealistic and
unacceptable.
T13. The individual. countries marked for priority opera-
tions under paragraph 14a wi-.l vary as to criticalness from
time to time, and other coun'';ries may demand priority treatment.
The same is true of those co aitries mentioned in paragraph 14e
as being susceptible to succu:ssfll covert political action.
114. The foregoing fact:; merely emphasize the interim or
partial nature of the concept, and point up the importance of
r~-commendation 5 which calls for its continuous review and
recurrent revisions to meet future developments."
5. I would appreciate being informed at your earliest conven-
ience if the proposals in paragraph 2 of the present memorandum are
acceptable, and also whetter you :4gree to any of the optional sug-
gestions in paragraph .3. If I receive concurrences from the Depart-
ment of State and the Central Int:lligence Agency in the suggestions
of the Department of Defense, I w%ll record the plan as approved.
AJ an. G. 'irk 7 i..`...
Director
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,ee. 3.-i ty Information
25X6
NSC
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