LETTER TO MR. STAATS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003300180060-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 12, 2003
• Sequence Number: 60
• Content Type: LETTER

C c~~ r ~;pwu. r -' /~`?j
DR4 roved For Release 2(TOR/29:DI80R`~y134ffl033(~9~8~bD'=s
SECURITY INFORMA110
bear Mr. Staats;
The Secretary has asked me to reply to your letter of May 1, 1952
transmitting a draft report to the President on the work of the Psychological
Strategy Board and a proposed I clarif .the PSB directive for the
U
President's signature.
We have given careful consideration. to this material, and it is the
view of the Department of State that the report is an excellent analysis
and that the proposed ^ia? r? fi rfl+i nn r'~+ A-Fast? -?e be ~,, .i.,~,.,~?. should b.. issued..
The Department believes that there is one change which should be made
the proposed clarifying document and wishes to make several suggestions
with respect to the report itself.
While I believe that the proposed rotation of the chairmanship among
the members of the T.aa rd is desirable and is supported by the analysis
set forth in the rerort, the same analysis appears to condenz the suggestion
that the Director right serve as w~residing officer. If the Director should
both .a..ssuhm.e broader resonsibil_ity to "organize the staff and activities
under the Board" and serve as presiding officer at the !teetings of the
Board, it is likel;, that the effective chairmanship of the Board would in
fact migrate to the Director. The Department of State agrees with the
,cos tion taken in the report thatthis development would not be desirable.
Consequently, we - ropose that the sug gestiion that the Director mi. ht
serve as presiding officer be deleted from the proposed clarifyi.ng
document.
Approved For Release 2 6 tJ IFC D 480R01731 R003300180060-5
 13833S d01
Approved For Release4DOM 1 fOP80R01731 R003300180060-5
h?.ve the following suggestions on the report itself:
1. In- the section of the report dealing with the "role and mission"
of the Board it is stated that the "cold war headquarters" view of the
Board would require "a pattern of relationships with the President
and the National Security Council independent of those which its
member departments could provide." While this statement is entirely
tr7,e, it mi,;ht be added that an adequate distinction bet-.teen the functions
of the NSC and the PSB would become virtually impossible.
2. In the same section of the report the "other extreme view" would have
the Board concerned "only with programs specifically identified as
-sycholopical operations, such as propaganda and the like." The phrase
"and the like" obscures the boundaries of this definition in such fashion
thha.t the extreme view is not adequately expressed. The definition would
be improved by the deletion of this phrase.
3. In several places, the report speaks of "strategic planning"
unmodified by any reference to the field within which the Board is
concerned with strategic lens. This problem might be dealt with by
footnoting the first use of the term "strategic planning" with the state-
ment that this term. as used in the report means strategic planning within
the field of the Board's responsibility.
4. The first paragraph on rage four implies that the Board has the same
degree of responsibility for "forward and strategic planning . . . for
specifically identified psychological operations" and for "the psychological
=a.snects of a national effort." It would be desirable to recognize a
Approved For Release 2003/05/23 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003300180060-5
TOP SECREt SU dRi1Y INFORMATION
 i ur stUtit t
Approved For Release 0`914If "80R01731 R003300180060-5
distinction between the responsibility of the Board for plans within the
field of psychological operations and for the psychological aspects of
other plans and programs. Programs of an economic, political or military
character not designed primarily as psychological programs may, of course,
have great psychological importance. The Board should provide advice to
the Departments and the National Security Council on the psychological
aspects of such programs, but it could not reasonably be held "responsible
for" these aspects to the same degree as it is responsible for planning of
psychological programs. kctually, this Fad' is well expressed in the
last paragraph on page 5. "The obvious intent of having provided for a
board structure for PSB is to insure this correlation and, as necessary,
subordination of -'sychological considerations with broader consideration
of high military or foreign policy and with operational feasibility." .
P s/P
PX c+zvl\-
52/52
Approved For Release 290310SEG lTDP80R01731 R003300180060-5
SECOR1r JORMAIIOM
 Approved For Release 2003/05/23 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003300180060-5
May 12
CIA - Mr. Hulick
Room 225 Administration Bui_ldi-ng
Attached is a rough
copy of the letter Mr. Sergeant
has suggosted for Mr. Bruce is sig-
nature to Mr. Staats. Mr. Sargeant
would be hap Try to discuss it or a CTA
draft with Mr. Wisner & Defense.
Approved For Release 2003/05/23 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R003300180060-5