940.40/12–2451
Foreign Service Information and Educational Exchange Circular Number 141
Subject: Relationship of USIE to Radio Free Europe and Similar Activities in Other Areas
1. Purpose
This circular is issued to clarify the status of Radio Free Europe (RFE) and similar activities sponsored by private groups vis-à-vis the United States Government and to establish a policy to guide the relationship of USIE to such activities.
2. Nature of Radio Free Europe
2.1 It is emphasized that Radio Free Europe is a private, non-governmental agency supported from contributions solicited in the United States by “The Crusade for Freedom”. It concentrates its radio broadcasts on the captive countries behind the Iron Curtain, namely Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, and Albania, striving specifically to present news and information denied within those countries by the controlled press and radio.
2.2 In the area behind the Iron Curtain where both operate, the major aims of the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe are essentially the same. The Voice of America, however, with its responsibility for full reporting of official American acts and documents, American news, and world developments cannot devote the major part of its Iron Curtain broadcasts to events inside those countries as does Radio Free Europe. It is also to be noted that while the [Page 1316] Voice of America speaks for the United States Government and the American people, Radio Free Europe is a privately-organized medium through which, for example, Poles speak to Poles as “The Voice of Free Poland”, Hungarians to Hungarians as “The Voice of Free Hungary”, etc.
2.3 Thus, while the basic principles which it currently emphasizes in its broadcasts are those for which the United States and other nations of the free world stand and while it serves as a valuable complement to other free world efforts, Radio Free Europe cannot be construed under any circumstance to be speaking officially for the United States Government. Any suggestion by other nations that the United States Government assume responsibility and endeavor to control the output of Radio Free Europe has been rejected as contrary to democratic procedure and the principle of freedom of information.
3. Relationship to USIE and the Public Affairs Programs in Germany and Austria
3.1 In addition to programming and transmitting operations at its European base, Radio Free Europe has a reportorial staff operating in many other cities of Europe and the Near East. It is inevitable that there will be frequent contacts between representatives of Radio Free Europe and USIE.
3.2 The Department’s policy is that representatives of Radio Free Europe shall be treated in the same manner as the properly accredited representatives of other private information media, such as press associations, radio networks, publishing houses, etc. It is intended that the USIE staff be helpful in making available any unclassified materials requested. Representatives of Radio Free Europe are not privileged, however, to have access to classified information [Page 1317] and policy guides nor is it appropriate for USIE officers to discuss such materials with representatives of Radio Free Europe. Is should also be clear that the primary function of the USIE staff is the conduct of the official United States overseas information and educational exchange program, and the Department’s general endorsement of the aims of Radio Free Europe should not be construed as authorizing any special activity on the part of USIE which would in any way jeopardize the success of the official program of the Department. This policy also applies to the public affairs programs in Germany and Austria.
- Drafted by Lane (IE) and cleared by appropriate functional and geographic offices and bureaus within the Department of State. Sent to all diplomatic and consular missions.↩