DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64B00346R000500030018-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2001
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: January 1, 1962
• Content Type: LETTER

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington
State Dept. declassification & release instructions on file
The Secretary has asked that I reply to your letter of April 26,
1962 in which you requested a report on the status of the Depart-
ment's examination of the proposed legislation ''To Create a
Freedom Commission and Freedom Academy."
After a study of the various thoughtful proposals in the "Freedom
Academy" Bills and a lengthy and detailed look at the Department's
and other agencies' programs for research, training and information
programs on communism, we are able to give you our views on the
proposed legislation. While the Department fully appreciates the deep
concern for the security of the United States which motivates the
sponsors of the proposed legislation, and recognizes that certain
aspects of it have considerable merit, an balance we believe that
it would not serve as a useful instrument of national policy.
The sponsors of the Freedom Academy Bills urge correctly,
in the Department's view, that in our struggle with the forces of
tyranny - and communism in particular - we must employ not only
military strength but also all of the political, psychological,
economic and other non-military means at our disposal. The
President has given to the Department of State a primary role in
marshalling all of our resources in these fields which cut across many
broad areas of government responsibility. The integrated efforts of
the foreign affairs and security agencies are as vital in developing the
overall strategy and tactics of the "cold war" as in carrying them out.
Expertise and operational experience are as important in the formula-
tion. of policy as they are in its execution. For this reason, the
Department seriously questions whether comprehensive and realistic
plans for dealing with the indefinitely complex problems of U. S. Foreign
Affairs can be developed by a new, separate government agency,
especially one
The Honorable
J. W. Fulbright, Chairman
Committee on Foreign Relations.,
United. States Senate
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without operational responsibilities, as contemplated by 5.822. Furthermore,
we would be seriously deluding ourselves if we believed, as 5.822 suggests,
that the strategy for waging our struggle against communism could be
formulated into an "operational science."
The Department agrees that intensive research into the nature and
techniques of the communist movement is necessary to our cause. As you
are aware, our intelligence community has built up a large reservoir of
talent and material in this general area and their efforts are complemented
by the large volume of excellent studies being conducted by private
individuals, foundations and institutions. As the Bill correctly points
out, however, more work is needed in research on the appeals, techniques
and organizations of World Communism. We have submitted requests to
Congress in the Department's budget for increased research in this area.
Another purpose of the bill is to instruct public officials and private
citizens in the techniques and methods of communist infiltration and
organization. Instruction in this area is provided government officials
through the National and Service War Colleges, the Foreign Service Institute
and training assignments at private institutions. For example, the Foreign
Service Institute emphasizes communist methods and organization in all its
substantive courses and conducts twelve special two weeks' seminars each
year on communist strategy. During the last five years, 2, 750 students
from many departments and agencies of the Government attended these seminars.
Plans are currently underway to expand significantly the Foreign Service
Institute and broaden its training responsibilities tcmeet the needs of
the changing times. For example, a special course is soon to be added to
the Foreign Service Institute curriculum designed specifically for senior
officers of the Department and other government agencies assigned to newly
developing countries. The course at its inception will concentrate on
problems peculiar to Southeast Asia and Latin America where Communist
efforts at subversion and other activities have a potentially disruptive
influence. Additional ways of improving the Institute, particularly with
respect to the Communist threat, are under active consideration.
In addition, educational opportunities are available at any one of
the excellent Russian research or international studies centers throughout
the country. The number of university programs and courses on Soviet
studies on "Communism" has increased greatly in the last few years. Only
a few years ago Soviet and Chinese Communist specialization was available
at only three or four universities, now such specialization is offered by
over 25 American universities and colleges.
Another proposed purpose of the Academy is to train operational cadres
in countering Soviet Communist techniques and methods for use abroad. This
is not something that can properly be done by Americans alone, and by its
very nature should not be a publicized operation. Publicity of the type
suggBpxdvsd11 M 1 &d r 012JliV01? @MR4 PWr4BH ., 6o et ig) rpose of
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the program before it had begun. Soviet training of foreign communists
in the techniques of organization, subversion, etc.., is conducted, for
example, in the highest secrecy.
With reference to the idea of enrolling foreigners, in this Academy
for training as operational cadres, it is ext remely doubtful if the
governments of many countries or public opinion abroad would support
a United State s program of this. nature and the reaction in these
countries to a highly publicized institution of this kind would bring
almost certainly a negative response. The Freedom Academy would
be regarded abroad, and immediately characterized by Soviet propa-
ganda, as a "Cold War Institute", which would be regarded as a
training course for espionage and would give a completely incorrect
connotation to the world of the U. S. concept of "freedom".
While existing programs and facilities for other types of training
and research are impressive and are continually expanding, the
Department believes. that more rapid expansion and improvement of
them is essential. Various steps in this direction are under considera-
tion. One is proposed in the foreign aid legislation, which calls for
a new authorization to finance an. intensive program. of research. in. the
problems of economic and social development in less developed
countries. Another is the previously mentioned program to expand the
Foreign Service Institute.
In the Department's view, however, the best research and training
for meeting our international responsibilities will not come from. the
establishment of a single, government institution like the proposed
Freedom Academy.. As with our society as a whole, the genius of
American research and education lies in its pluralism, and to depart
from this tested approach at a time when we face the most difficult
international problems in our history would, in the Department's view,
be most unwise.
Finally, we believe that positive programs aimed at furthering
the cause of freedom represent the best means of fighting communism.
Abroad, in a world in flux, the peoples of the less-developed areas
yearn for national and individual dignity, for a better life for them-
selves and their children. To align ourselves. with these aspirations,
the Administration initiated such. new programs as the Peace Corps,
the Alliance for Progress and a reoriented and reinvigorated program
of foreign aid that will provide economic and social development where
it is most needed and will do the most good. At home, we can all join
together in building a stronger United States not only by conducting
ourselves at all times as responsible citizens but also by working for
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improvements such as a stronger economy and a modernized and
reinvigorated educational system.
Sincerely yours,,
Frederick G. Dutton
Assistant Secretary
C
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