EXECUTIVE ORDER 9312 - DEFINING THE FOREIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF WAR INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000100080007-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 16, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 9, 1943
• Content Type: OPEN

EXECUTIVE ORDER 9312
DEFINING THE FOREIGN INFORMATION ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE OF WAR
INFORMATION
Under and by virtue of the authority: vested in me by
Title I of the First War Powers Act 1941, approved December 18,
1941 (Public Law 354--77th Congressj, and as Commander in Chief
of the,Army and Navy and as President of the United States, it
is hereby ordered as follows:
1. The Office of War Information will plan,-develop,
and execute all phases of the federal program of radio, press,
publication, and related foreign propaganda activities involving
the dissemination of information. The program for foreign
propaganda in areas of actual or projected military operations
will.be coordinated with military plans through the planning
agencies of the War and Navy Departments, and shall be subject
to the approval of the-Joint Chiefs of Staff. Parts of the
foreign propaganda program which are to be executed in a theater
of military operations will be subject to the control of the
theater commander. The authority, functions and duties of the
Office of War Information shall not extend to the Western
Hemisphere, exclusive of the United States and Canada.
2. The military order of Juno 13, 1942, establishing
the Office of Strategic Services, is hereby modified to the
extent necessary to make this order effective.
March 9, 1943.
NSC review(s) completed.
(15609)
FRANKLIN D ROOSEVELT
 a. Formulate and carry out, through the use of
ties, information programs designed to facilitate
press, radio, motion picture, and other facili-
policies, activities, and aims of the Government.
and progress of,the war effort and of the war
understanding, at home and abroad, of the status
the development of an informed and intelligent
flow of war information to the public and the
purpose of assuring an accurate and consistent
b. Coordinate the war informational activities
of all Federal departments and agencies for the
world at large.
cerning the war effort and advise the agencies
c. Obtain, study, and analyze information con-
oration as to the most appropriate and effective
concerned with the dissemination of such infor-
means of keeping the public adequately and ac-
curately informed.
radio and motion picture programs sponsored by
d. Review, clear, and approve all proposed
as the central point of clearance and contact
.Federal departments and agencies; and serve
for the radio broadcasting and motion picture
industries, respectively, in their relation-
ships with Federal departments and agencies
concerning such Government programs.
the Government's informational programs and fa-
of the United Nations for the purpose of relating
e. Maintain liaison with the information agencies
cilities to those of such nations.
f. Perform such other functions and duties re-
lating to wpr information as the President may
from time to time determine.
5? The Director is authorized to issue such directives
concerning war information as he may deem necessary or appropriate
to carry out the purposes of this Order, and such directives
shall be binding upon the several Federal departments and agen-
cies. TTe may establish by regulation the types and classes of
informational programs and releases which shall require clearance
and approval. by his office prior to dissemination. The Director
may require the curtailment or elimination of any Federal infor-
mation service, program, or release which he deems to be wasteful
or not directly related to the prosecution of the war effort.
6. The authority, functions, and duties of the Director
shall not extend to the -lestern Hemisphere exclusive of the
United states and Canada.
7. The formulation and carrying out of informational
pro ;rams relating exclusively to the authorized activities of
the several departments and agencies of the Government shall
remain with such departments and agencies, but such informa-
tional programs shall conform to the policies formulated or
approved by the office of War information. The several depart-
ments and agencies of the Government shall make. available to
the Director, upon his request, such information, 'and,data as
may be necessary to the performance of his functions and duties
 tECUME ORDER 9182
'8. The Director of the Office of War Information and the
Director of Censorship shall collaborate in the performance of
their respective functions for the purpose of facilitating the
prompt and full dissemination of all available information
which.will. not give aid to the enemy.
9. The Director of the Office of War Information and the
Defense Communications Board shall collaborate in the performance
of their respective functions for the purpose of facilitating
the broadcast of war information to the peoples abtnad.
10. The functions of .the Division of Information of the
Office for Emergency Management with respect to the provision
of press and publication services relating to the specific acti-
vities of the constituent agencies of the Office of Emergency
Management are transferred to those constituent agencies res-
pectively, and the Division of Information is, accordingly abol-
ished.
11. Within the limits of such funds as maybe made availableIL i
to the Office of Aar Information, the Director may employ ne:- ?
essary personnel and make provision for the necessary supplies
facilities, aid. services. He may provide for the internal manage
went and organization of the Office of War Information in such
manner as he may determine.
12. All records, contracts, and property (including office equipment) of the several agencies and ali.records, contracts,
and property used primarily in the administration of any powers
and duties transferred or consolidated by this Order, and all
personnel used in the administration of such agencies, powers,
and duties (including officers whose chief duties relate to
such administration) are transferred to the Office of War Infor-
nation for use in the administration of the agencies, powers,
and duties transferred or consolidated by this order; provided,
that any personnel transferred to the office of Thar Information
by this Order, found by the Director of the Office of War Infor-
mation to be in excess of the personnel necessary for the admin-
istration of the powers and duties transferred to the Office of
War information, shall be retransferred under existing procedure
to other positions in the Government service, or separated from
the service.
13. So much of the unexpended balances of appropriations,
allocations, or other funds available for the use of any agency
in the exercise of any power or duty transferred or consolidated ,`.
by this Order or for the use of the head of any agency in the
exercise of any power or duty so transferred or consolidated, as
with the of
the Director of the Bureau of the
shaBldbettransferred toothe Office
the President shall.determi.ne,
of War Information, for use in connection with the exercise of
powers or duties so transferred or consolidated. In determ_ning
the amount to be transferred, the Director of the Bureau of the
Budget may include an-amount to provide for the liquidation of
obligations incurred against such appropriations, allocations, or
other funds prior to the transfer or consolidation.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
rune 13, 1,942