Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

740.00/2–2450

Memorandum by Mr. Robert P. Joyce of the Policy Planning Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Thompson)

secret

[Washington,] February 24, 1950.

Subject: National Committee for Free Europe—Eastern Germany.

1. With reference to conversations with yourself and Mr. Byroade in early January with regard to the discussions of the directors and the executives of the National Committee for Free Europe on the question of Eastern Germany, I wish to bring further information to your attention. As I informed you, our friends of the NCFE feel very strongly that Eastern Germany should be in their bailiwick and indeed feel it is so important that it might almost be considered a “keystone” of the arch of our foreign policy in Europe. In other words, they feel that they should make a considerable effort in connection with the preparation of radio programs by the NCFE for Eastern Germany.

2. You will recall that when I asked you for a policy decision on this matter, you had a discussion with Mr. Byroade as a result of which you informed me that the Department would look with favor upon such a proposal by the NCFE, but that it was not quite clear to you exactly what the NCFE had in mind.

3. I am now pleased to advise you that as a result of further consideration of this matter by the NCFE the following represent more or less their point of view:

a. Germany is the crucial point in the propaganda battle now raging. If the battle for Germany is won, the task for Central and Southeastern Europe will be enormously simplified. If it is lost, any success we may have had in Central and Southeastern Europe will, in the end, prove of little avail.

b. The members of the NCFE are not clear whether or in what manner propaganda by radio is being carried to Eastern Germany today. They have the impression that the Armed Forces network is not effective in this field and that the Voice of America is limited by the same general considerations of governmental policy which led to the formation of NCFE.

c. On this account they raise the question whether the scope of the activities of NCFE might not to advantage be extended to cover Eastern Germany.

d. Should the answer be in the affirmative, it would be their thought that a strategic plan covering propaganda for Eastern Germany should be worked out by representatives of this Committee, and representatives of our organization, in coordination with State, on the basis of which appropriate directives could be prepared for the guidance of those immediately in charge.

e. They believe that to be effective, the programming for propaganda directed to Eastern Germany should be done in Germany, probably in the neighborhood of Frankfurt, and upon the approval of this project, they would be prepared to recruit the staff needed for such an operation.

f. The actual broadcasting would then be handled over the same facilities which are now in preparation for the other activities of NCFE in the field of radio.

Robert P. Joyce