19. Memorandum From Richard Sneider of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1
SUBJECT
- VOA Political Commentary Beamed to China
You asked to see what VOA puts out as political commentary to Communist China.
I attach a representative sample (Tab B).2 I attach, also, at Tab A,3 a copy of the “Country Paper” for China used as basic guidance by VOA. It makes the following points:
A. Audience—The target is an elite group, including officials who do not themselves listen, but receive reports of VOA programs.
B. Special Factors—The Chinese have been exposed to massive propaganda; they will be skeptical of anything with a propagandistic flavor. The target audience is not thinking of destroying the system, but turns to outside broadcasts for independent information and for release from the sterility of Chinese Communist media.
C. Objectives—VOA tries to act as a “window on the world.” The underlying purposes are:
1. to inform listeners of the real direction of US policy.
2. to increase dissatisfaction with and distrust of Peking’s policies.
3. to stimulate a desire for a more realistic and reasonable stance by the Peking leadership.
D. Themes—The US does not threaten China; we seek a reduction of tensions. We retain our friendship and respect for the Chinese people and look forward to an eventual restoration of ties. The US can and will repel Communist aggression, but our purpose is defensive, and we seek cooperation rather than hostility. We believe in the free flow of ideas and people. Chinese Communist policies have interfered with China’s development and have isolated China internationally. The great world problems transcend national boundaries, and must be [Page 38] solved cooperatively. We wish to cooperate with all nations in programs of mutual assistance. There are built-in fallacies in Communist ideology; changes will inevitably come to China, as they are coming to Eastern Europe, requiring Communism to be more responsive to the people’s needs.
E. Program Content—There are six categories: news; political commentary; cross-reporting on Asia and Communist countries; cautious coverage of Communist Chinese internal affairs; features on the United States; and music.
Comment: Frank Shakespeare is anxious to review VOA’s output to Communist China in connection with the new China Study4 and the opening of a new, much more powerful VOA broadcasting station beamed at China.
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 306, Agency Files, Voice of America. Confidential. Sent for information. An unknown hand initialed for Sneider. Kissinger wrote “Noted HK” in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum.↩
- Attached but not printed.↩
- Attached but not printed is the IBS Country Paper on mainland China, dated December 13, 1967.↩
- Not further identified.↩