MINUTES SEVENTH MEETING OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD DECEMBER 20, 1951, 2:30 P.M. ROOM 5104, STATE DEPARTMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 20
• Content Type: MIN

Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved Fo Fease 2003/12/16: CIA-RDP80-01069*QQO500100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION
Copy No. 1 1
PSB M-7
MINUTES
Seventh Meeting of the
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGY BOARD
December 20, 1951, 2:30 p.m*
Room 5104, State Department
General Walter B. Smith, Director of Central Intelligence,
Chairman
Honorable William C. Foster, Deputy Secretary of Defense
Honorable James E. Webb, Under Secretary of State
Mr. Gordon Gray, Director, Psychological Strategy Board
Mr. Raymond B. Allen, Director Designate, Psychological
Strategy Board
25X1A
OTHER PARTICIPANTS:
Department, of State
Fr. .:c:~aard W. Barrett., Assistant Secretary of State
Mr, John M. A 1ison, Acting Assistant Secretary of State
(Agenda Item 5 only)
Mrs W, Bradley Connors (Agenda Item 5 only)
D; 2?r x.,nent of Defense
,7;7.-"ffene rahn A. Magruder (Retired)
Joins ":'lief: of Staff
Genes rat esmond D. Balmer, USA
Cen-t.-r Intelli,genc~ Aged
Mutuai Security Administration
M John Ohly Agenda Item 2 only)
Mr. Robert Eichholz (Agenda Item 2 only)
Psyr.hola icall Strategy Bow d
C.-lon6l Charles W. McCarthy,, USA
Mr, Tracy Barnes
Mr-, Wallace Carroll
Mr. John Sherman
Mr. Charles E. Johnson
25X1A
Colonel, USA
Executive Officer
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION
Page 1 of 8
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020 - 9 i {~ /'
 Approved For`` WM4ase 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065500100020-0
TOP SECRET SECURITY INFORMATION PSB M-7
Benda Item 2, - Pr~,~r,.r,. Orbit Staff Stndy
Action
A. The Board apL :rr^d FSB D-18 as a : '?rthei
action with the following an .,..,i, cents s
1. Add new paragraph 'tb, 2" to the Recomme.,datio:is
to read as follows, "To provide the necessary guidance for
planning and effecting access to escapees in connection with
covert U. S. programs".
2. Make all changes as are necessary in the amounts
relating to sources of financing and objects of expenditure
set forth in the Discussions and Recommendations to conform
with the amounts set forth in the statement provided by the
Department of State as followst
The lower MSA dollar figure in the PSB budget than in the De-
partment's budget results chiefly from the lower per capita estimate
for resettlement plus an estimate far available counterpart funds,
Page 2 of 8
25X1
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 25X1A
Approved For wease 2003/12/16: CIA-RDP80-01065 0500100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION PSIS M-7
B. The Board requested the Department of Defense, in
coordination with other responsible agencies, to complete and sub-
mit to the Board as a matter of urgency a study of the possible
military potential in the utilization of escapees for military
purposes other than those set forth in the Lodge Bill.
Discussion: Mr. Gray stated. that the subject program was being
developed, first, to meet the present extremely critical situation
and, second, to meat the need for positive means of maximizing
the psychological benefits in the escapee ;situation.
Mr. Sherwin preseited the staff study. In presenting the study
he emphasized the urgency of the recommended action and stressed.
the fact that the carrying out of this program is a prerequisite
to the success of present as well as any new future policies and
programs for the utilization} of escapees.
,Mr. Webb stated that the State Department was prepared to
accept responsibility for imralementing the U. S. objectives in
this program and, in so doing, for assuring that a suitable
organization is established to administer the program. He further
stated that the State Department required greater assurances with
rosnnect to financing than those now proposed. and suggested that
the Psychological. Strategy Board itself should request the Director
of Mutual Security for an allocation of '; 4,300,OOO. He also
reserved discretion with respect to revising the plans for ex-
penditures and me,-..ns of financing. He observed that the State
Department may arrange with a arpocial organization to assist in
administering the or. ograra.
Mr. Ohly pointed out that any funds made available by the
Director of Mutual Security Would be from Title I - Military End
Item Funds - as authorized by the terms of the Kersten amendment.
He raised the question of the Congressional intent with respect
to the use of these funds for an escapee program, indicating
that the program might be interpreted as a welfare program. He
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFOIW4ATION
Page 3 of 8
Page revised by Corrigendum of 18 January 1952
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved For se 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A9d00100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION PSB M-7
urged that a check be made with key Congressmen on this aspect.
He further stated that there were other competing claims on these
funds and there is an element of priorities involved. He also
indicated that it looked as though this might be the first phase
of a program that would lead to a larger expenditure in the
future, and asked if thinking had yet developed with respect to
this second phase.
General Smith said that the Board had not thought through the
second phase of the program and was not able at this time to state
such further requirements.
Mr. Webb pointed out that the estimate of governmental financing
had been kept low due to the anticipated tie-in with voluntary
refugee organizations and with the plans of other interested coun-
tries.
It was generally agreed that it was highly important that a
thor?augh study be made of the potential military usefulness of
the program, both for the purpose of supporting allocation of
funds by the Director of Mutual Security and the defense of such
allocation in the Congress and also for the purpose of developing
the second phase of the program.
Mr. Foster made clear his position that in approving the paper
for further action he was specifically withholding for further
consideration the question of the transfer of funds from Title I,
Military End Item Funds, for the purpose.
General Smith asked that the staff study be amended to change
the language of paragraph 23-b-1 as noted in:the action above.
Mr. Webb proposed, and the Board approved, the _nver. pion of a
new estimate of the cost of program in paragraph 20 b provide
for a request to the Director of Mutual Security for k:,300,000
instead of the proposed request of $2,500,000 contained in the
staff study. The text of the Department's budget for handling
18,000 escapees is set forth under "Action" above.
Agenda Item 1. - Staff Stud on Publicity with Respect to Certain
Weapons 'B D-ld/C)
Action: The staff study was approved. The Board authorized
the immediate establishment of a committee chaired by a represen-
tative of the Department of Defense and a directive to the committee
Page 4 of 8
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved Fos. eease 2003/12/16 CIA-RDP80-01066VM@6500100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION PSB M-7
to proceed with the drafting of its terms of reference for the
approval of the Psychological Strategy Board. The Committee
should then address itself as a matter of urgency to the prepara-
tion of a national information policy. ---?
Discussions Mr. Gray presented the staff study indicating
that the title now referred to "certain" weapons pursuant to a
suggestion by the Department of Defense. The kinds of weapons
covered are defined in the text of the study, Mr. Gray pointed
to the difficulties involved in dealing with this rubjec?t due to
the presence of both domestic and foreign infcnnation a5pc:.1,s and
the fact that the Psychological Strategy Board is not in any way
concerned with the domestic aspect. Further there are interdepart-
mental difficulties due to divided statutory respot.sibili.ties with
respect to the release and treatment of classified irThrrtation.
There are other problems arising from the responsibility of the
State Deparrinnnt under NSC-59/1.
Mr. Webb suggested that the proposed committee be established
with instructions to proceed immediately with the drafting of its
terms of referee e for the review and approval of the Board. He
noted that the Board at this time could not deal with al,? the
complications involved, Be further proposed that the . c;a'n ,i ttee
could be next i.rxs t?r~. fed to prepare a national information policy
guidance under who.-..h the Department of Defense and thc: State
Department ccou)d issue their respective types of vi:arna bearing
on those matters for which they have statutory or e. ecnt: vro respon-
sibility.
Mr. Foster thought that through the use of the committee the
responsibilities now divided between the Depar=tment of Defense and
the Atomic Energy Commission could be coordinated.
It was agreed that the committee would be organized as proposed
in the staff zt.uu.cy and that it would be requested to draft its
terms of .re'.eren:.,e for the approval of the 3osrd and further that
it would nrepere a national information policy as a matter of
urgency.
General Smith designate as the CIA
representative. Mr. Foster designated Mr. Clayton Fritchey as the
Department of Defense representative. Mr. Webb stated that he
would designate the Department of State representative at a later
time,,
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION
Page 5 of 8
25X1A
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved Foar ase 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01068y4& 500100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION PSB M-7
Agenda Item 3. - Plan fer Conducting Psychological Opeaations
Turin General Hostilities D- a)
The Chairman inquired as to the status of the comments of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, receipt of which are needed before the
Board takes final action on the plan.
General Balmer reported that the matter is still under con-
sideration by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and that he has been at-
tempting to expedite completion of the comments. The Chairman
requested General Balmer to inform the Joint Chiefs of Staff that
the Board hopes to receive their comments some time during the
month of January. Mr. Foster said that he would expedite action
and attempt to secure the final comments early in January.
Agenda Item ?i. - New Projects Approved the PSB for Staff Action.
Mr. Gray reported that this agenda item is for the information
of the members of the Board. These three plans have already been
approved as projects for work by the P5B staff, He reported that
with respect to agenda item It-B the Department of State has sug-
gested that the study take the form of an evaluation of the psycho-
logical results obtained from the Presidnt's original proposal
to the United Nations General Assembly with respect to the reduc-
tion and limitation of armaments and with respect to t^e manner
in which it has been exploited up to this time. This evaluation
would precede any further planning of further exploitation of the
proposal. Mr. Gray further reported that agenda 4-C is not con-
sidered to be a matter of high priority and it will be so treated.
Mr. Gray also stated that another project was considered by the
Board members which does not appear on the agenda, i, e., the
East-West Trade Problem in connection with the forthcoming Moscow
Economic Conference which is set for next April, This matter is
also under study as authorized by the Board's members.
/AAgenda. Item 6. - Suggestion for a new project General Walter!.
Smith.
Actions The Board approved this proposal as a new project under
the lea ership of the Department of State with the assistance of
the PSB staff. General Smith's proposal is as follows:
"I suggest that the Board consider on a priority basis a
Psychological Warfare Plan for Germany, which will define
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION
Page 6 of 8
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved Fo pi ase 2003/12/16: CIA-RDP80-010690 500100020-0
25X6
strategy in regard to two major interlocking problems#
25X6-
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION
Page T of 8
TOP SECRET . SECURITY INFORMATION PSA H-7
(1)
(2)
There was discussion of Colonel Henry Byroade as Passible
chairman and general agreement that he should be the chairman of
a panel to be organized under his leadership in cooperation with
the staff of PSB.
11 nuu i L-40W%a7 aw v. .. - ----
resent Avai!ba a or Psycho ogicaroperat ons
ann r!j..
Mr, Gray reported that there is substantial agreement within
the panel with respect to a checklist of resources iftivailable to
planners and that it will be submitted to the members of the Board
before the next meeting. It will, however, not be submitted for
the Board's approval but be made available for the use of planners
in the respective Departments and agencies.
entat on CE Jean Tcw ___-
ends Item $. - Briefin ! De artment of State Staff on Psycho-
o c eras ons an o Assure the Font nu ng
Mr. John M. Allison in charge of the Bureau of Far Eastern
Affairs presented a briefing covering the salient facts with re-
spect to Japan. He stated that Japan, although sovereign after
Approved For Release 2003/12/16 : CIA-RDP80-01065A000500100020-0
 Approved Forase 2003/12/16: CIA-RDP80-01065500100020-0
TOP SECRET - SECURITY INFORMATION P$B M-7
the occupation ends, will still not have the ability to defend
herself and the defense of Japan for an indefinite period will
be an A;nerican reso,nsib llity. This will create difficult psycho
logi(- -,:L. p~ c :ems. We will have to use great tao L and patience
in g,;.-4*.