SURVEY OF THE FUNCTIONS OF MONITORING PRESS AND PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS OF FOREIGN POWERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-01569R000100030039-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2012
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: February 25, 1946
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/12/13: CIA-RDP10-01569R000100030039-6
C I4G. 1
25 February P46
CENTRAL
SURVEY OF TEE
AND PROPAGANDA.
ELLIGENCE .GROUP
Memorafidum by the
I.
'
NCTIONIOF MONITORING PRESS
CADadTS'OrPOREIGN POWERS
ector /of Central Intelligence
. .
I. DurinWhe war the
ducted a For/ign BroadcaS
monitored press and props
A
ral Communications Commission (FCC)car-
'
I4tO11ige,nce Service (F130) which
broadcasts of foreign poVers.
2. The FCC was in the proces-bf'liquidating this aginey when
Ito functions were taken over by he War Deprtment on 4n interim
hsis
on 30 December 1945. 'The -Ar Department has requested that
-
the Director of central Intelligence assume responsibility for
thc proper disposition of former FBIS functions with a view to
dc,termining the most appropriate Government
1 '
Foreign propaganda broadcafts on g
-
necessary recommendrItions 't,C0:; the
;
(Enclosure "B").
It appears that this
T)f urgency. The Central
furnph the steering mem
and believes:that such a:
make the necessary study
Paragrdph 3 of
by which such a committee
agency to monitor
continuing basis and:make the
tional Intelligence Authority
hould be undertaken a" a matter
IIP:e Group is prepared
Interdepartmental coptee,
,
should be organized 4rt'once
irepiive No. 1 provides a procedure
'
created by unnimous approval of
,
the Director of Central Ii4e.lirice and, the IntelligenOs
:.uthority.
5. The mer4orandum in Enda
the proposed committee ancl.jg
11 members of the Advisor
to the NationalIntelligence
"A" is design(:d to establish
it the necessary directii/e. If
concur in the draft without
subsantial ange, a meeti w.1 not be necessary. ItkiS
x
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recommended that Enq1ure r.A" be prilroved, and that -each
member of the Advieqy'fl3o3r4 arrange for necessary *plementation
by his Department,
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ENCLOSURE "A"
DRAFT
C.I.G. DIRECTIVE NO.
SURVEY OF TRE FUNCTION OF MONITORING PRESS
AND PROPAGANDA BROADCASTS OF FOREIGN POWERS
Memorandum by the Director of Central Intelligence,
with the Unanimous Concurrence:
of the'Intellience Advisory Board
1 a. During the war the gederal Communications Commission
(FCC) conducted a Foreign BrOadcast Intelligence Service (FBIS)
which monitored press and propaganda broadcastS of foreign powers.
The FCC was in process of liquidating this agency when its func-
tions were taken over by thelfL,r Department on an interim basis
on 30 December 1945.
b. The product of the FBIS was valuable to the State,
Department, to the intelligence.agencies of the. Wr,r and Navy
Departments, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and undoubt-
edly to other departments and agencies.
C. Since the interim arrangements will cease at the end
-)f the fiscal year 1946, it is essential that the ultimate dispo-
sition of former FBIS functions be determined at an early date.
2... By unanimous approval fte Director ofCentral Tutelli-
'
gence and the Intelligence A4y ry Board an ad hoc Committee is
hereby established to consis ?ffive members,lone representing
the Director of Central InteIl hoe and one representing each
member of the Intelligence Advifr4ry Board. This committee will
promptly make a detailed stu4YIO facilities, resources :and
operations for monitoring foreig press and propaganda broadcasts,
encT will determine whether this Service is of continuing value to
Lxisting Federal Igencies. Its report will include recommendations
Which resources facilities, e.nd operating functions
should be continued in the national interest.
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3
Enclo re "A"
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b": WhLt disposition 41.hould be made of preserved resources
and facilities and wha7ssignments should be made of responsi-
bility for conducting Oie preserved operating functidhs.
c. What budgetary a4angements should be made.
3. The committee will submit a report of findings, conclusions
and recommendations to the 'Director of Central Intelliggnce, who
will then prepare suitable recommendations to be submitted to the
National Intelligence Authority after obtaining the conChrrence
or comment of the Intelligence Advisory:Board. The Director of
the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be invited to sit as a
member Of the Intelligence Advisory Board for consideration of
these recommendations.
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CIG 1 4 - Enclosure "A"
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ENCLOSURE "B"
12 February 1946
MEMORANDUM FOR REAR ADMIRAL SIDNEY W. SOUERS:
Subject: Monitoring of Foreign Propaganda Broadcasts.
1. During December 1945 the Var. Department Was informed that
the Federal Communications .Commission was in process of liquidat-
ing its Foreign Broadcast Intelligence Service (FBIS) which
monitored press and propaganda broadcasts of foreign powers.
Although systematic coverage of toreign.propaganda broadcasts
was believed primarily the concern of the State Department, it
was also valuable as an auxiliary activity to the intelligence
functions of the War and Navy Departments. Other government
agencies were served by the product of the FBIS. Therefore, as
an interim measure only, pending any program the State Department
night initiate, the W.Ir Department expanded its monitoring program
t.) meet the need arising from the liquidation of FBIS (Tab "A").
2. The 14_1, Department, with the approval of the Federal Com-
nications Commission (Tab "B"), accordingly employed former
7-BIS personnel and placed them on the vox Department payroll
ffective 30 December 1945; and all FBIS facilities, including
those held by lease or contract, were acquired by the War Depart-
ment on loan or by transfer. The War Department arranged for the
_(_negotiation of outstanding leases and contracts, which now
'rnstitute a charge against its current operating expenses. Fend-
in R detailed arrangements, it acquired by loan fixed facilities
end equipment owned by Federal Communications Commission, necessary
for the functional
to continued FBIS operations. See Tab
organization of FBIS.
tic II
3. It is inappropriate and outside of the scope of its responsi-
hilities for the War Department to continue monitoring foreign
prcss and propaganda .broadcasts beyond the fiscal year 1.946
(June 30,, 1946). Another government agency should be prepared to
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continue the FIS function after that date. It is the fore
proposed that the Director f Central Intelligence ass
responsibility ;for the proper d4 position of the FBIS 4#d its
related Central Intelligence funCtions and make the necessary
recommendations to the National intelligence Authority with a
view to determining the most appropriate government agency to
I,. , ?
b . ,
monitor foreign prop-gand,ai roadcasts on a continuing basis. It
4-H-
,6
is recommended that the WO
,and Navy Departments be informed as
early as practicable as tbthe ultimate disposition of::,PBIS.
3 Incls:
1.
Tab
"A"
2.
Tab
"B"
3.
Tab
"C"
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/ tHOYT S. VANDENBERG
.Lieutenant General, GSC
Asst. Chief of Staff;G-2
Enclosure "B"
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TAB "A" ENCLOSURE "B"
21 Derember 1945
Hon*able Paul Porter
ChaUman, Federal Communications Commission
7'Tashington, D.C.
Den Mr. Porter:
tio
gen
brio
:The var Department s advised that the Federal Communion-
,
Zommission is liqu ting the Foreign Broadcast Intelli-
Y
-,$ervice (FBIS), whi01 monitors and digests propaganda
4sts of foreign powprs.
'
71Systematic coveragOpf foreign propaganda broadcasts is
.,.,1
bel yed primarily the c ern of the State Department. It also
is 34.1able to the Wnr and.'Navy Departments. In the circum-
sta
p of these times it71s an essential source of intelligence.
"s a1nterim measure, pending any program the State Department
nitiate, the War Department plans to expand its monitoring
-
r)rogram to meet the needArisitg from the liquidation of the
FBI
gra
It is proposed that all FBIS personrel, without change of
'01" duties or accrued leave, be transferred to the War
Dep ent prior to 31 December 1945 and that the Commission holci
the ersonnel together by continuing operations pending an
ord41y determination and transfer of those essential to con-
tin tll.operations.
is considered impOrtant that agreement in principle to
the ecessary transfers be reached immediately in order ,to avoid
lossol' continuity and ofexperienced personnel. A mutually
sati.factory settlement of the details on readily be made by
renr Sentatives of the 14_,r Department and of the Commission. The
G-2 iyision will represent the War Department in this matter.
RES TOTED
ffIG 7 - Tab "A" to Enclosure "B"
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Your acceptance of tthese proposals is requested. It will
fatilitate War?Departmen plans, to expart4 its monitoring program
16 the national interest
A
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Sincerely yours,
/ ROBERT P. PATTERSON
Secretary of' War
Tab "A" to Enclosure. ";p"
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TAB "B" TO ENCLOSURE "B"
. December 27, 1945
Honorable Robert P. Patterson
Secretary ot.War
Pentagon Building
Washington, D. C.
My dear Secretary Patterson:
This Will acknowledge .your letter of 21 December 1945
proposing tljtransfer to the War Department of the CommiSbion
,
,.
personnel vto have been engaged in the monitoring of fo eign
, 1,,.
shortwave broadcasts and further proposing the loan to (he
,
'War Department of all Federal Communications CommisSion'lacili-
1 i
ties which have been employed in that activity.
i
The:O6mmissiOn accepts the proposals made in your letter
and steps are being taken
ments which 'you suggest. To this end representatives of the War
Department and repi:,esentatives of the
?
for the purpose ofimaking detailed plans.
immediately to effectuate theCarrange-
C'Dmmission met this morning
The CommissiOn is pleased that the War Department .has found
it possible to carry on this important activity.
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By Direction of the Commission
/s/ PAUL A. PORTER
Chairman
- Tab "B" to Enclosure IB"
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FUNCTION' ORGANIZATION OF
THE FOREIGN Bb AST INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
Office of the Director (6 positions)
Directs and supervises the execution of all the functions
of the service; responsible for
supervision of the field Offices,
coordination of the work of the various divisions and units,
liaison between the service and the government departments which
it serves.
Monitoring Division (53 positions)
Monitors (linguists) summarize in English and provide ex-
cerpts from significant broadcasts being received at the Silver
Hill station. Pll broadcasts
ones are translated in f4ll,
others in response to speial
Section in the Division mainta
broadcasts by station, frequen
basis for making up the mOnito
Broadcast Intelligence Seryice
monitored are recorded. Important
some as part of regular schedule,
requests. A Program Information
47
a complete list of foreign
and time, which is used as the
rg schedule for all Foreign
8I5) monitoring Stations.
Publications Division. (74;posi Ons)
Prepares and issuesmime aphed and typewritten reports
n incoming broadcasts for rap &distribution to government
agencies requesting them. I Theqe include a daily report of texts,
summaries and excerpts ofFar aStern broadcasts prepared by Far
Eastern Section; a similar rep rt of European broadcasts prepare
by European Section; a siMilar report of European broadcasts
by Latin :merican Section speil reports in answer to queries.
,
Ts Division maintains cumultling, detailed knowledge of the
content of the monitored radiobroadcasts of foreign powers.
Soecial Services Section serves the Division by maintaining
files of background facts, namls and places and serves as a centsr
for telephone and written queries for particular information from
r
other agencies.
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- Tab "C" to Enclosure 'B"
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Operates gener41,specialized 'teletype services to
thterested government agenciesto provide rapidly factual in-
.
larmation of what 13 being broadcast by foreign powers; receives
and transmits to monitors and editors the requests from user
kgencies f7)r speciftcsubjects or kinds of information to be
,
monitored.
Administrative Service ti: Division (35 positions)
Receives stencils of reports from the Publications Division
4id transcripts from the Monitoring Division; mimeographs,
(Mates and distributes by messenger and mail the reports thus
processed; also receives, regords, distributes and files incoming
and outgeting correspondence, mimeographed reports, transcripts
and recordings; maintains a messenger service.
Field organization (106 positions)
The field stations,4re located at strategic points for the
interception and repOrting.to Washington of foreign broadcasts
not monitored in the Washington area. There are FBIS stations
at Guatts.Kaucli T.I4; and Portland, Oregon. These stations
monitor translate edit and dispatch by radio and pouch to
Washington, D.C., Press and propaganda broadcasts of foreign
powers.*
The London and Cairo offices have access to similar
Materiai monitored lay B.B.C. and M.O.I. respectively and performs
the sam4;seleCtion, editing and transmission functions.
Te foregoing functional organization of the Foreign
/4
DroadcaOt Intelligence Service is substantially that taken over
by the War Department :effective 30 December 1945. It is subject
to review prior to final approval by the War Department.
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