Mr. CLARK. We would intend to continue it after June 30. Senator ELLENDER. Why is that necessary? It is under Italy now. Are you operating through Rome? Mr. CLARK. Yes, sir. Senator ELLENDER. Or inside of Rome? Mr. CLARK. Through Rome. Mr. STREIBERT. It is a post of Rome. Senator ELLENDER. Have you any facility in that part of Trieste under Tito? Mr. CLARK. No, sir. Senator ELLENDER. It is solely in Italy, in the Italian section? Senator KILGORE. Do you have anything further, Senator Ellender? PRESS SERVICE JUSTIFICATIONS AND SUMMARY TABLES Senator KILGORE. Next we have the Press Service with a request of $5,839,000 for 1956 and which was reduced $366,500 under the House bill. The record will show the justifications and summary tables. (The material referred to follows:) The Press Service supplies the United States Information Service missions by using every technique of the printed word and picture through which Agency policy can be efficiently applied abroad. It sends out 75,000 words and 2,000 pictures a day to promote United States aims and refute Communist lies. It is a supply reservoir upon which posts draw for a wide range of essential press items ranging from flashbulbs to printing presses. The distribution of these words, these pictures, these supplies, with appropriate emphasis throughout the 79 countries and in the 63 languages and dialects in which press service products appear, is the result of area and country programing based on plans and budgets prepared by the USIS staff in each country. This medium is a flexible tool of policy readily brought to bear upon country or area problems. All output is designed to fulfill the objectives of the Agency. In doing this all press products are tailored as precisely as possible to meet field requirements. The printed word and picture have a ring of credibility for those who see them. Words are used to carry the American message to the literate, and pictures, cartoons, and posters to the semiliterate or illiterate. Press materials reach remote areas where there is no electricity or communications. They can be read, reread, and studied at the convenience of the reader, taken home to be shared by the family and then passed on from hand to hand. Finally, they can be drawn upon by others for their own products. Using the press service output as raw material, the posts adapt, translate, and reproduce the information in the most effective form for each country. It is then distributed to newspapers, magazines, radio stations, schools, livraries, government officials, legislators, civic leaders, and other opinion molders, and public and private organizations. Products are constantly undergoing change based on observations and suggestions of field staffs and the area assistant directors. Much of the actual printing for Far East posts is done by the press regional service center in Manila and for the Near East by the press regional service center in Beirut. Other production is handled locally by the posts. An important product used by the USIS missions for their day to day press output is the wireless file, which is prepared by the service in Washington. This actually comprises four separate and distinct wireless news services. It is transmitted 6 days a week to the field for translation and distribution to foreign news outlets and opinion leaders. It contains background and feature material, texts of Presidential, congressional and other important statements, editorial comments, staff-written commentaries designed to further American policy objectives, and material needed to correct damaging misconceptions about America. Newspapers and magazines in foreign countries are supplied with special press features and other materials to supplement materials received from private agencies. In some places, where newspapers cannot afford or do not choose to use private agencies, the USIS material is all that is available from American sources. In such areas, if it were not for the wireless file, the foreign news services, including Tass (Russian) would take over by default. In one Near East country, in fact, Tass used to outplace USIS 10 to 1. Since the wireless file has been received there, the ratio is now reversed and editors consistently accept the USIS version. The fact that so many newspapers, especially in the Near and Far East, rely on this file for most of their foreign reports enable the Agency to place stories favorable to United States objectives. Each day, the material in the file reaches an estimated 100 million foreign readers through 10,000 foreign news outlets. The material which follows details the estimates for the Press Service and explains proposed changes from fiscal year 1955 to fiscal year 1956. 1. Personal services and related items ($2,724,500).-The estimate provides for: (1) 372 domestic positions required for the editorial preparation of press materials for use by the field; for procurement of press supplies and equipment to support overseas production; and for overall program planning, direction, and central services; (2) 1 overseas American and 3 local positions are assigned to Paris performing press coverage functions; and (3) 20 overseas American positions and 230 overseas locals at the press regional centers: (Manila, 15 Americans and 202 locals; Beirut, 5 Americans and 28 locals) provide printing support and assistance for USIS missions' press programs. No increase in positions is projected in the Press Regional Centers for 1956. The estimates also include costs of social security and employee group-life insurance programs for employees. The increase of $269,300 for 1956 is for: (1) 19 new domestic positions at a cost of $81,900 to meet the increased workload for pilot model material (8 positions); news and photographic reporting to South and Southeast Asia (2 positions); and expansion of photographic services domestically (9 positions). (2) Projection in fiscal year 1956 for the full-year cost of 357 domestic positions authorized at the end of fiscal year 1955 ($141,100); and (3) A full year cost of operating two 10-hour shifts at Manila financed on a part-year basis in 1955 to meet increased production requirements of the Far East missions ($70,000). The increases above totaling $293,000 is offset by a decrease of $23,700 due to abolishment in the fiscal year 1955 of 3 American positions and 20 overseas local positions, resulting from closing of the European service center. 2. Travel ($81,000) (a) Domestic servicing ($46,000).—The estimate provides for written and pictorial coverage of foreign visitors, international conferences and events, and consultation with commercial printers. Travel performed by Press Service staff is for the purpose of obtaining feature and illustrated press material required by the field. In addition, the estimate includes one overseas trip to install radioteletype equipment in the Far East area. (b) Regional center servicing ($35,000).-Provides regional travel for photo coverage and liaison with client posts to coordinate and assist with the development and production of press material, $4,000; and 7 home leave trips for American personnel in the press centers at Manila and Beirut, $31,000. The decrease of $10,000 represents the difference between 13 home leave and appointment trips in 1955 and the 7 estimated in 1956; (-$25,000) plus an increase of $15,000 in travel expenses to provide for greater news and photo coverage of foreign visitors domestically ($10,000) and installation of radioteletype in the Far East ($5,000). 3. All other ($23,000) This category consists of central services costs related to the domestic reproduction of feature material, distribution of domestic products, obtaining reprint material through newspaper subscriptions, postage, and contractual messenger service. The estimate provides for: (a) Four hundred subscriptions to leading newspapers and magazines to obtain reprint material for press output, at an average of $20 per subscription. (b) Art supplies for utilization in pilot model pamphlets and continuity strips, at an average of $200 monthly. (c) Reproduction and shipping supplies for printing and shipping of monthly feature packets, bimonthly kits, photo prints and negatives, at an average of $500 per month. (d) I ostage for airmailing features, plastics, manuscripts and proofs, plus the rental of postage meter machine, at an average of $400 per month. (e) Contractual messenger service to pick up latest news developments which, because of the time element, cannot be sent through regular channels, at an average of $150 per month. The decrease of $11,300 is due to the liquidation of the European Regional Service Center. B. Program materials for USIS missions not allocable to area or country EXPLANATION OF MAJOR ITEMS 1. Wireless file and other communications ($441,500) The estimate provides for the transmission of 8,000 words daily through the wireless file and special transmission of major speeches and announcements. It also provides for the transmission and reception of news traffic including commercial news ticker service and news reported through commercial cable facilities. Of the total estimate, $216,000 is devoted to the transmission of four daily regional files, together with special transmissions which are edited and translated by USIS overseas staffs, and made available to local newspaper editors, writers and governmental officials. The balance, $225,500 is required for operational news traffic. No increase is requested for 1956. 2. All other servicing ($480,000) (a) News and feature service ($24,500).-This service ranges from single articles, sent by pouch or airmail daily, to complete packages shipped monthly. Background and action kits on aspects of American life or United States foreign policy; packets on labor, women, youth and sports; and dozens of reprints of articles from American magazines each month are included. Photos usually accompany these products. Some articles are produced outside IPS on a contract or space-rate basis. The posts use these materials for background, for press placement, for production of pamphlets, for person-to-person contact with foreign editors, and in USIS produced periodicals. The estimate provides for byline and illustrated articles by name writers. It supplements the regularly produced feature material developed by IPS through its press coverage media and by its editorial staff. The contractual purchase of articles is required to fill special requests by the field for articles by name writers or on particular subjects. The space-rate method is utilized to cover foreign visitors, international conferences and events at those points at which it would be 59824-55-63 uneconomical for IPS to cover with its own staff. The estimate provides for approximately 800 articles. No increase is requested for 1956. -- (b) Pilot model program ($184,000). These publications are produced by IPS in sample quantity and sent to all posts. The posts are free to adapt them in any way before translating and producing, either at the post or at the regional service center. The post also arranges its own distribution, often working with interested local groups. The estimate consists of two items: (1) Pamphlets, and (2) booklets. (1) Pamphlets ($28,000) The estimate provides for articles, illustrations, and reproduction: (a) A semimonthly tactical pilot model dealing with United States worldwide policies and objectives (24 pilot models). (b) A biweekly model on anti-Communist propaganda issues (26 pilot models). The cost for preparing and printing a pilot model averages approximately $560, making an annual cost of $28,000 for the 50 pilot models described above. (2) Booklets ($156,000) The estimate provides for preparation and production of two booklets on aspects of American life and culture which best promote understanding abroad of United States objectives. The cost for each subject is estimated as follows: (a) Preparation (contract for a finished dummy), $20,000. (b) Printing (90,000 copies), $58,000. The increase of $160,000 for pilot model program provides for the preparation and production of the booklets ($156,000) and the net increase for a biweekly pilot model on anti-Communist themes ($4,000). (c) Photo servicing ($216,000).-Pictures are obtained by IPS through commercial picture sources, free sources, or Press Service photographers. These are used to illustrate pamphlets, features, packets, and kits, and are sent to posts for use in display, placement in indigenous or USIS publications, and newspaper inserts. Posts are also supplied with plastic plates of these pictures, which cost a fraction of the price of comparable zinc engravings. These plates can be used by even the smallest provincial newspaper with no extra equipment. The estimate provides for the purchase of: (a) Eight thousand six hundred selected photo subjects secured through freelance photographers and photographic agencies. (b) Photographic supplies for the IPS Photo Laboratory: chemicals, papers and other related photo supplies, including replacement parts for photo equipment, to produce 100,000 photo prints and negatives monthly, at an average monthly cost of $6,300. (c) Plastic plates of 5 photo subjects weekly: 1,200 plates of each subject, at an estimated annual cost of $55,000. The $63,000 provides for an increase of 25 percent in photo subjects and 100 percent increase in print material to be used by the field in their local production and placement program. The increase will be totally devoted to anti-Communist issues. (d) Problems of Communism ($29,500).—A high-level, thoroughly documented study of Communist developments aimed at intellectuals, editors, government leaders, etc. This magazine attacks communism in a way that is particularly effective with "neutralists." It is issued on a bimonthly basis and is printed in two languages: English and Spanish. (A French edition is printed in Paris and selections from this publication are printed and placed by the USIS mission.) The estimate provides for: (a) Special articles by experts on Soviet affairs; 8 articles for each issue at approximately $200 per article. (b) Printing of an average of 10,000 copies of the English edition. (c) Translation, printing, and distribution of 5,000 copies of the Spanish edition. The increase of $5,000 provides for doubling the circulation of the English edition. (e) Continuity strips ($26,000).-Currently, two weekly cartoon strips are sent to the field. One is a pantomime strip which ridicules the Soviets in a way that appeals to audiences in all parts of the world. The other is a panel containing 3 Ripley-like illustrated facts, 1 of the 3 items being a subtle anti-Communist or pro-free world political subject. The field receives these in litho print and plastic plate form and usually places them in leading newspapers. |