(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000400180003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 13, 1952
• Content Type: MEMO

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C O N F I D E N T I A L
Security
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director
Psychological Strategy Board
31
COVY '1
Feb.'uar~~ 13, 1952
D
Tnt:TJ : Assistant Director, Office of Plans and. Policy
1, The Weapons Information Guida =e Committee has completed its
c't ri; eta a''?vc ib in the Te ': s of JvrV-,vy 1952, suoject,
cf Reference for PSB Weapons Information romyrdtt--ie.
(Panel 'D') .",
2. Forwarded herewith are the following papers, which were y^zpc.red
by the committee;
a. Draft Memorandum for: Executive Secretary, National
Security Council (Tab "A")
b, Draft prototype covering Presidential Letter (Tab "B")
c. Draft enclosure to Presidential Letter, "Memorandum on
Public Statements With Respect to Certain American Weapons."
(Tab "C") .
3. In addition to preparing the above papers, the committee also
inquired into the desirability of creating new clearance machinery for
the subject statements. The committee concluded that existing procedures
are adequate, and that the establishment of new machinery at the NSC or
PSB level would be improper, inasmuch as neither agency is designed to
deal with day-to-day matters of operational detc.il.
However, the co'.rnittee recommended that it remain subject to
call of the chairman fog- perioUr? revision of its guidances for public
statements with re:spert t, ;.heae :e:'tain American weapons.
4. The ' om,j'.t ee exa.mi.ae_d a list of specific "do's" and"don'ts",
as a possible encinsuMe to tha memoran(l.um. at Tab C, The committee con-
-11,,lee. t:iat such a list could not be suitable, inasmuch a: 'o-nditions
vary too much to justify establish Lng set of general principles.
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5. The committee recommends that when PSB has approved Tab "C"
and noted Tab "B".. the men ora}id.um attached at Tab "A" be transmitted to
the Executive Secretary, NSC for action. Informal advice from the NSC
secretariat indicates that if the memorandum has already received the
approval of PSB, plus that of the other interested departments (in this
instance the Atomic Energy Cormission and the Federal. Civil Defense
A?lministration), the memorandum can be put before a meeting of the NSC
without requiring reference to the Senior NBC staff or other NSC staff
machinery,
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D R A F T Security Information
7 Yebruary 1952
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
MEMORXNAUM.FOR: Executive Secretary
National Security Council
TA.B "All
SUBJECT: PSB Action on Publicity With Respect to Certain American Weapons
1, A series of conflicting statements made last Fall by high officials
of the Executive Branch of the government produced considerable public con.
fusion as to the facts concerning our atomic and related developments, They
raised doubts as to the degree of unity and confidence within the govern-
ment on the purposes of these weapons. Particularly, they gave rise to
considerable fears abroad, as to U.S. intensions with respect to the use of
these weapons,
2. For these reasons, the Psychological Strategy Board at its 4th
meeting, October 25, 1951, directed the preparation of a staff study on the
problem. At its seventh meeting, December 20, 1951, acting on the recom-
mendations contained in the staff study, PSB created a committee chaired
by the Director, Office of Public Information, Department of Defense, to
prepare a "national information policy" on the subject.
3. It was agreed at the Senior NSC Staff Meeting of November 19, 1951
to refer to PSB for appropriate action, in connection with this projebt, a
draft report by the NSC on "Release of Information Regarding New Weapons,"
dated July 5, 1950, action on.which had not been completed,.
4, The attached memorandum, Subject, "Memorandum on Public Statements
With Respect to Certain American Weapons" has been prepared in response to
the above board action.
a, At its meeting, 195-2 the Psychological
Strategy Board approved the memorandum,, recommended that it be transmitted
to appropriate departments and agencies as an enclosure to a Presidential
directive (draft attached), and directed that its views be communicated to
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C O N F I D E N T I A L
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the Executive Secretary, NSC. The Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal
Civil. Defense Administrator joined in this approval and these recommendations.
b. The committee also examined the question of the adequacy of
speech clearance machinery as it relates to statements covering these
weapons, It concluded that the machinery created within departments and
agencies in response to the Presidential directive of 5 December 1950,
"Public Discussion of Foreign and Military Policy," should be used for the
enforcement of the attached memorandum rather than that a new clearance pro-
cedure should be established.
FOR THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD:
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Washington
Prototype for all
Departments
The Honorable
Dean G. Acheson
Secretary of State
Department of State
I am forwarding to you a memorandum, subject "Public State-
ments With Respect to Certain American Weapons," which is de-
signed to assist you and members of your department in addressing
the American public on matters concerning our recent developments
with respect to certain-American weapons.
I desire that you bring the contents of this memorandum to
the attention of key officials of your department, and elicit
their full cooperation in carrying out its intent.
Sincerely,
Harry S. Truman
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D R A F T
7 February 10,52
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Security Information
TAB "C"
MEMORANDUM ON
PUBLIC STATEME NTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN AMICAN WEAPONS
The fact of American atomic superiority undoubtedly has a deterrent
effect on Soviet leaders. Whether unconsidered statements about atomic and
other new weapons produce any significant deterrent effect on the Kremlin
may be doubted.
While well-considered statements on atomic and other new weapons can
develop confidence in the determination and strength of the U.S. and the
rest of the free world, ill-considered statements on these subjects can be
used by the Soviet-led Communists to encourage a belief that the U.S.
might use these weapons in a reckless, irresponsible way.
Within the U.S. itself, ill-considered statements about these weapons
may create a false sense of security, lead to expectation of miracles in
war and possibly jeopardize the maintenance of a balanced defense program
both military and civil.
It follows that we must be extremely careful in our public statements
about atomic weapons. The same applies to guided miss-i 1.er,. q.ndd bi