Memorandum from Robert N. Golding to Richard Bissell, with Related Material

CONFIDE OFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Mr. Richard M. Bissell, Jr., Acting Administrator September 24, 1951 From: Mr. Robert N. Golding, Consultant Subj: Report on East-liest Trade. Notwi thstanding the Battle Bill, the situation in Congress is serious because the public has not been educated in East-hest trade and still thinks in terms of "arming Russia," and it is the public which puts pressure on members of Congress, particularly in an election year. If other agencies think that the storm is over and that everyone mey now relax and enjoy tranquillity, they are sadly nistaken. The report is long because it attempts to give a rather complete explana- tion of the activity, such as would be useful in a panphlet. It is essential that the public be educated and nobody but ECA can or will do this. The question of publication need not be decided inmediately. The question which must be answered at once is what to do about sending copies to Senetor 0°Conor and to the Foreign Affairs Committee, both of whom have requested a copy. The report of Senator 0*Conor's committee will g° to print Tiednes- day morning and I think it will be advantageous to have a copy of this report in the hands of the staff before then. They have an understanding approach to the problem. The unclassified section contains little that has not already appearod in letters or public testimony, except the examples and they cannot be identified by anyone who is not in possession of the classified information. I do not, however, favor sending any of the report up as unolassified without clearing it with other agencies. I therefore suggest that the classification be raised to confidential and copies sent with en explanation that this had to be done because shortness of time precluded clearing, cos: Ambassador Wood Dr. FitzGerald Mr. Cooley Mr. Mullen Mr. Regers CONFIDENTIAL