LETTER (Sanitized)FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R003300180066-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2003
• Sequence Number: 66
• Publication Date: May 1, 1952
• Content Type: LETTER

pproved For Release 2003/05/2 ?61A~R;D '1 731 R003300180066-9
Q i h+1IY MruiaaGikrlum
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
MAY 1 1952
With reference to your memorandum co the Board Members dated
24 April 1952, "Action P.egarding Current Cold War Tactical
Measures", I an in general agreement with your interpretation of
the wishes of the Board as to procedures to be followed by the
Board Members, the Director and the Staff in the circumstances
considered by the Ord at its informal meeting on 10 April. I
agree that the procedures should be adopted on a trial basis for
the time being, as you suggest.
I should like however to add that I attach considerable
importance to the potentialities of the Director and Staff for
identifying and alerting the Board, and in turn appropriate
operating agencies, to psychological chall es or opportunities -
the full and timely significance of which the operating agencies
may sometimes miss. Also it may happen that a single member of
the Board will be alerted to an opportunity which indicates prompt
and coordinated action of all operating agencies. This action
should appropriately be effected through the coordinating
mechanism of the Psychological Strategy Board. There may be
occasions when the members of the Board by emergency decision can
initiate time-saving action through the Director which will permit
the lYnited States to eei:se the initiative in a given situation
which otherwise might be lost.
I consider that such procedures are a normal responsibility
of the Psychological Strategy Board. thether the action sought
is tactical or strategic is immaterial. The purpose is to get
prompt action. *thermore, the purpose is not to put the Psycho-
logical Strategy Board into the operational field but to ensure
that the operating agencies have such assistance and stimulus from
the Psychological Strategy Board as,I believe, is contemplated in
the President's Directive.
OSD REVIEW COMPLETED
Dear
1 --1
Sincerely yours,
Director
Psychological Strategy Board
Deputy Secretary of Defense
Approved For Release 2003/05/ ?~Ik? 641M *ttf'l~
7318003300180066-9t
 Approved For Retease 2003/05/23 : CIA-RDP80R01731 8003300180066-9
Apra V4 1*52
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ahaetaig a of our early conversations on this
a+ab3.ct amt I suggest that this a rsaa be
at our next lunch meting.
25X1
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Use Director re current
said w tactical saau rea
Ltd ~2.
C-Files
P5B Files
IDENTICAL ICI) SENT TOs Deputy Secretary of Defense and
Director of Central Intelligence
Ii/2h/9;2
Approved For Release 2003/04