Office of the Historian

210. Memorandum From Steven Larabee of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Aaron)1

Washington, August 20, 1980

SUBJECT

  • Jamming of VOA (U)

As of 9:00 a.m. this morning the Soviets began jamming VOA (in Russian, Ukrainian and Armenian) as well as BBC and Deutsche Welle. This is the first time that the Soviets have jammed VOA since they ceased jamming it in August 1973. (Radio Liberty of course has continued to be jammed). As far as can be ascertained at the moment, RFE broadcasts to Eastern Europe not previously jammed—i.e., Poland, Rumania and Hungary—have experienced no increased interference or jamming. (C)

The last time that the Soviets resumed jamming of VOA was in August 1968 just after the invasion of Czechoslovakia. (Prior to that, VOA had not been jammed since 1963.) The Soviet action most likely reflects the Soviets’ fear of the impact on their own population of news about the unrest in Poland. The fact that Deutsche Welle is also being jammed reinforces the view that the Soviet action is primarily related to Poland (rather than Afghanistan or some other event). Moreover, given the Ukraine’s close historical ties and geographic proximity to Poland—as well as its strong indigenous nationalism—it is no accident that the Soviets have begun jamming VOA’s Ukrainian service as well. (C)

The Soviet action is an important development. It is a clear violation of the Helsinki Accords2 and attests to their intense concern about the impact of news about the Polish unrest on their own population. The Soviets would not undertake such a move lightly, since it will affect [Page 627] their relations not only with us but with other West Europeans, particularly the West Germans. Moreover, it is likely that the jamming will endure well beyond the duration of the unrest in Poland. (C)

Attached at Tab A3 is a statement condemning the Soviet action, which I asked State to draft. It has been cleared by Christopher. BBC has already issued a statement and I think we should release ours immediately. State agrees. I also think it should be released by State. Al Friendly concurs.4

RECOMMENDATION

That you approve release by State of the attached statement.5 (U)

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–9/80. Confidential. Sent for action. Also printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XX, Eastern Europe, Document 79. Aaron sent a copy of the memorandum to the President under an August 20 memorandum; the President initialed this memorandum. (Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 9, Board for International Broadcasting (RFE, RL, VOA): 2–9/80)↩
  2. Basket Three of the Helsinki Final Act holds all participating states to “encourage the wider showing and broadcasting of a greater variety of recorded and filmed information from the other participating States, illustrating the various aspects of life in their countries,” and to “note the expansion in the dissemination of information broadcast by radio, and express the hope for the continuation of this process, so as to meet the interest of mutual understanding among peoples and the aims set forth by this Conference.”↩
  3. Attached but not printed is an August 20 draft entitled “Contingency Press Statement: Resumption of Soviet Jamming of Voice of America.”↩
  4. Aaron placed a vertical line in the left-hand margin next to this paragraph and the recommendation below it.↩
  5. Aaron approved the recommendation.↩