FOREIGN PRESS REACTIONS TO REVELATIONS ABOUT CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000100060032-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 8, 1999
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: March 3, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

FOIAb3
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SUBJECT: Foreign Press Reactions to Revelations about CIA
Note: In any public discussion of these reactions,
there is some danger of appearing to accept certain
allegations as fact, either by the method of presenta-
tion or by the denial of some charges (thereby indi-
cating that others are true).
1. The reaction in the U. S. has been far more hysterical and
vocal than is the case anywhere overseas.
2. The most damaging media treatment has come from the U. S.
press and wire services going abroad which have been picked up and
reprinted in foreign newspapers.
3. Certain nuances in the foreign press treatment are worth
noting.
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a. AFP (France) has been treating the subject in the most
aggressive and hostile way of any Western wire service.
b. The Communist press, such as that of the USSR, at first
very largely picked up and played the American news service
reporting, emphasizing the scandal and Hysteria in the U. S.
More recently, however, the Communists appear to have gotten
their line squared away, and they are now taking advantage of
the considerable interest in this subject by focusing on specific
youth and student mechanisms that have been compromised,
including, of course, anti-youth festival activities.
c. The Communists also are now tailoring their overseas
foreign language broadcasts to s iic audiences. citing anything
that has been exposed that would have a particular impact in a
given area. For example. for African audiences the Communists
jjjjjjjjonjjjjjjd CIA support of the
d. Media treatment in the UAR is also worth singling out.
UAR media came out very early and strongly against CIA., citing
25X1 C4c alleged CIA support to
25X1 C4c a subject of immediate local interest. Subsequently.
treatment has been considerably broadened to include anything
in the past which could be linked to CIA, such as the Iranian coup
of 1953.
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e. A very considerable number of moderate press media
abroad have been reporting on CIA with objectivity and, perhaps
surprising to some Americans. with little censure. Some foreign
newspapers have. in fact, noted Mr. Katzenbach's report that CIA
has enabled "farsighted and courageous Americans" to serve their
country. Leftist, anti-American outlets have. of course, elabor-
ated on any flamboyant and far-fetched angle: that CIA is seeking
to ruin the economies of developing countries in order to keep
these countries dependent on the U. S. ; that CIA is not reluctant
to engineer political assignations; that CIA is over ready to sub-
vert, subsidise. corrupt. buy or rent. Where there is anti-U. S.
sentiment. the U. S. press exposures of CIA have provided an
undreamed of club. In one country, a leftist politician whose
patty was bestcn in an election has now charged that CIA money
enabled the winning political party to b*At him.
f. There has been embarrassment expressed by some student
groups; others have hardly commented at all.
4. Looking at the overall prase coverage abroad, there has been
considerable reporting, based on U. S. press services going abroad, but
the foreign press has engaged in very little editorialiaia-t? Certain
countries of special significance can be noted, however.
a. Chile
(The U. S. Ambassador in this country is a former presi-
dent of the U. S. National Student Association. There have been
allegations that CIA was involved in the recent election of Presi-
dent Frei. The Foundation for Youth and Student Affairs (FYSA),
which has figured prominently in news stories, has a represenerta-
tive in Chile.)
As far as press coverage in Chile is concerned, however.
only the Communist newspaper El Sfgl? mounted a campaign
against CIA and focused heavily on Ambassador Dungan. charging
that he has past CIA connections and that he is manipulating CIA
strings in Chile. Except for the Communist press, other papers
maintained a pointed silence until the influential non-Communist
El Mercurio, on t7 February, snapped back at the Communist
press, noting: "it is natural that the Communist publicity machine
has mobilised all over the world to take maximum advantage of
the facts recently revealed about the activities of the CIA. "
El Mercurio io went on to outline Communist activities in
student organizations, wars of liberation and other movements
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alongside of which CIA activities appear a "simple antidote".
The editorial concluded . . . "the Communists have no call to
criticise the CIA for acting defensively against subversion and
guerrillas. ""
in a later editorial. El Mercurio hit at Communist sub-
version. saying that CIA actions may be questionable in the
American society. but . . . "the programs of the CIA are small
scale in comparison to the tasks the Communists carry out with
enormous means and + cellent organisations. " The editorial
concluded . . . "that the Communists feign themselves to be
scandalised by the surreptitious financial help (the CIA has given)
to aleutral organisations is just another proof of their fantastic
audacity. ""
b. Igal a
Govermmnent controlled media in Spain have focused on
the allegations of funding of student activities in Spain, and the
travel by USNSA and International Student Conference representa-
tives to Spain to work with Spanish students who are in opposition
to the S sh government.
U. S. columnist Drew Pearson reported on CIA funding
of the Christian Democratic Party in elections some 18 years
ago. This particular allegation has, of course, received atten-
tion in Italian media.
d. South Africa
Of all countries in Africa, the media in South. Africa have
devoted the most coverage, in both radio and newspaper outlets,
to the subject of CIA. Coverage has emphasized CIA funding
of the American Society for African Culture (AMSAC) and the
American African Institute (AAI), two organisations which South
African media note as opposing the domestic policies (apartheid)
of the South African government. In this vsin. South Africa
has also linked CIA to the American Committee on Africa, an
organization which even the U. S. pro** has not alleged to have
CIA connections.
S. There are clearly a number of reasons why foreign (I. e.. non-
Communist) reactions have been so madvrate. They are worth noting.
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a. In many countries, other local issues have been of
much more overriding importance -- such as the elections in
India, or Fern's sudden involvement in a quarrel with the U. S.
over fishing rights.
b. There has been a certain reaction to the over-reaction
in the U. S. In many countries there is no desire to embarrass
local U. S. diplomatic personnel over what I. viewed largely as
a domestic U. S. issue.
c. In many countries, there is a sophisticated cynicism
among the country's elite (including, in some cases, students).
These are people who t that CIA to doing some of the things
it is charged with doing. It is not surprising to them. They
believe that the U.S. Government is doing these things for they
believe that all big powers do so. The fact that CIA is acting as
the arm of the U. S. Government holds no sinister application.
d. And finally, foreign observers have expressed amaae nt
at the details which continue to flow throughout the world via the
U. S. press. They are astonished that such irresponsibility would
be displayed by U. S. commentators and newspapers in a matter
that could be so damaging to U. S. national interests.
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