Memorandum from John Sherman to Samuel Berger

March 14, 1952 MEMORANDUM FOR: MR. SAMUEL BERGER Office, Director for Mutual Security SUBJECT: Public release of exchange of letters between the President and Mr. Harriman regarding the transfer of the 403 millions. Just to confirm the suggestions which I made yesterday regarding the above subject, my points were as follows: 1. It would be better not to make a public release of the letters in any form. This is for the reason that they tell only the partial story and since, as I understand it, a Congres- sional message is planned on covering this subject, among others, it would be much better for the public to get the full story through the message, rather than a partial story through the letters. 2. If the letters are in any event released, it would be desirable from the standpoint of the Psychological Strategy Board staff to delete any reference to the PSB and any reference to the program as a "first step". 3. That I could not give you an opinion on behalf of the member agencies as to the release of the letters, either from the standpoint of security, or from the standpoint of policy. These points should be covered directly with State, Defense and CIA. S/ for John Sherman only Assistant Director Office of Coordination cc: Director, PSB Mr. Neustadt, White House PSB Files C:JSherman:ms