Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXX, Public Diplomacy

163. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to the Director of the International Communication Agency (Reinhardt)¹

Washington, February 9, 1979

SUBJECT

• The President’s Comments on Persian-language Broadcasting and Related Issues (U)

The President has recently expressed concern² that the Voice of America was not prepared to broadcast in Persian in Iran when trouble began developing there. I realize that commendable efforts are being made to inaugurate Persian-language broadcasts as soon as possible and the President is aware of these. We can all see, however, that Persian-language broadcasts over VOA would be much more effective if they had already been continuing for a long time, with an experienced staff, and had built up a dependable audience in Iran. We should draw a lesson from this experience and reexamine our priorities in international broadcasting to see whether we are likely to have the capability for communication with other key countries in the future. Please review present allocation of languages and transmitter time in light of both our current foreign policy priorities and with attention to areas where we might face a need for enhanced ability to communicate during the next few years and advise what adjustments and additions you believe should be made. I would like to have the results of this review no later than 7 March. (C)

In addition, please undertake a review of transmitter needs during the coming decade in comparison with known and anticipated Soviet and other plans for expansion and develop recommendations for whatever additional investment it might be desirable for the United States to make to ensure our ability to compete in this area. This survey should be worldwide in scope, but I hear that Soviet transmitter power directed southward at the whole area from the Eastern Mediterranean over to the Indian subcontinent has given them advantage over all Western broadcasting, so the review should take an especially close look at the challenges we face in the Middle East and contiguous parts of Africa. This second survey should be ready no later than May 1, 1979.³ (C)

Zbigniew Brzezinski

1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Agency File, Box 9, International Communication Agency: 1–5/79. Confidential. In a February 6 memorandum to Brzezinski, Henze noted that Vance had indicated, within his Evening Report to the President, that the International Communication Agency would begin Persian broadcasting “in about six weeks” and that the President had expressed “impatience” about the delay. Henze attached a draft memorandum addressed to both Vance and Reinhardt, tasking the Department and ICA “with a review of language-priorities and trouble-spots.” (Ibid.) Brzezinski wrote “redo” on the draft memorandum; it was retyped to address only Reinhardt. Henze’s memorandum is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XX, Eastern Europe, Document 61.
2. See footnote 1, above. According to a February 5 memorandum to Sick and Henze, Inderfurth stated that Vance had noted in his February 2 Evening Report to the President that Newsom had met with representatives from ICA and VOA regarding American broadcasting to Iran. He continued, “ICA will begin broadcasting in Persian in about six weeks. State will also ask the Chinese and Germans to take account of Soviet propaganda against us in their own Persian language broadcasting. In response to the above, the President said: ‛We should have prepared for this 3–4 months ago—make this SOP in the future.” (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Agency File, Box 9, International Communication Agency: 1–5/79)
3. In a February 16 memorandum to Brzezinski, Reinhardt indicated that ICA would respond to the two requirements “by the dates due.” (Ibid.)