WORKING GROUP - COMMITTEE ON BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION (COBAT)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030027-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Sequence Number: 27
• Publication Date: February 28, 1956
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01 G34R p0030027-7
OPERATIONS COCI INE:TING BOARD
Washington 25, D. C. ,
February 28, 1956
1'EI%1ORANDUM OF MEETINGS Working Group - Committee on Broadcasting
and Television (COBAT)
Seventh Meeting held 1:30 p.m.,
February 27, 1956, OCB Conference Room
WORKING GROUP 1III4BERS PRESENT:
USIA - Robert E. Button (Chairman)
State - T. H. B. Nesbitt, TPIB Chairman
Defense - Lt. Cpl. M. E. Williamson
CIA - Representative of CI&
ICA - Robert Bruskin
0CB - Ralph R. Busick, Staff Representative
OTHERS PRESENT:
State - Richard Straus
1. Minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read.
2. Upon recommendation of the Chairman, the Committee reconsidered
its position with respect to the television situation in Finland and
decided that very recent developments have made Finnish TV a matter '
urgency for action by the U.S. Accordingly, it was decided to call a
special meeting of the Committee this week to complete the report on
European television so that the next regular meeting can be devoted to
an action plan for Finland.
3. It was agreed that as soon as an action plan for Finland TV
is completed, action plans should be undertaken for both East and West
Pakistan (which has signified its desire for U.S. aid), Iran, Taiwan,
Indonesia, Greece, and Singapore (as distinct from Malaya). Meanwhile,
the situation in certain European countries will be studied further,
as areas of urgency for which action plans may be necessary.
4. In considering the potentialities of the European TV situation,
the following observations and questions were discussed:
a. The desirability of keeping European TV program content
oriented toward the West.
b. The desirability of excluding Communist influence or
control.
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Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030027-
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c. The means of accomplishing a and b - viz., that the U.S.
hand should not appear, and that indigenous organizations or
individuals should be responsible. The best instrumentality is -
(1) NATO Cultural and Information Committee?
(2) Organization for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)?
(3) European Broadcasting Union (EBU)? or
(4) Any combination of the three?
d. Should an individual be the instrumentality rather than a
unit or organization - e.g., a German to persuade the Finns - to
avert suspicion?
e. Although TV in individual countries should receive,
encouragement and help, mutual program support seems to be
necessary, indicating need for aid toward developing a continental
network.
f. Each country has its own peculiar problems, so that a
country-by-country survey may be necessary.
5. It was agreed that the first thing to do is to find a way to
key Finland into a European-'wide TV network, possibly Eurovision.
6. The next meeting was called for Friday, March 2, at 2:00 p.m.
Ra1.ph R. Busick
Staff Representative.
Approved For Release 2000/08/27 : CIA-RDP78-01634R000300030027-7