Skip to content

October 25, 1956

Guidance for Radio Free Europe Broadcasts

This document was made possible with support from Blavatnik Family Foundation

CIA/International Operations Division guidance for Radio Free Europe at the outset of the Hungarian Revolution calls for extensive use of President Eisenhower’s September 23 statement on maintaining the spirit of freedom and for caution in pre-judging Imre Nagy.

Author(s):



Related Documents

July 13, 1956

National Security Council Discussion of Policy Toward Eastern Europe

Senior officials discuss US policy at a National Security Council (NSC) principals' meeting on July 12. Notwithstanding less cautionary views expressed by Vice President Nixon at the NSC discussion, on July 18 President Eisenhower approved a minor modification of the draft (NSC 5608 and the annex) as NSC 5608/1 to serve as a basic statement of U.S. policy (published as redacted document 80, FRUS, 1955-57, XXV ; unredacted document 17, Békés, Byrne, and Rainer, The 1956 Hungarian Revolution).

August 7, 1956

Agreed Policy Governing Radio Free Europe Operations

CIA and Free Europe Committee (FEC) restate policy for Radio Free Europe in the context of the 1956 upheaval in the Communist world.

October 25, 1956

Policy Considerations for Radio Free Europe Broadcasts

A CIA/International Operations Division official recommends policies to guide RFE broadcasting to Hungary during the revolution.

November 2, 1956

Phone Conversation on Guidance for Radio Free Europe Broadcasts

Radio Free Europe (RFE) Director Conerey Egan in New York telephones RFE Deputy Director Richard Condon in Munich to direct that RFE should report Hungarian developments and insurgent demands but not take a position for or against individual leaders or political parties.

November 2, 1956

Policy Considerations for Radio Liberty Broadcasts

CIA redistributes a State Department message of November 1 endorsing RL’s [temporary] ban on commentary on Hungarian events.

November 3, 1956

Comprehensive Guidance for Radio Free Europe Broadcasts

An authoritative, cautionary US government guidance, approved by Allen Dulles and Deputy Undersecretary of State Robert Murphy, conveyed to the Free Europe Committee that afternoon.

November 20, 1956

CIA Assessment of Radio Free Europe Hungarian Broadcasts

CIA provides the White House with an early appraisal of RFE broadcasting to Hungary during the Revolution.

December 3, 1956

Rethinking the Role of Free Europe Committee and Radio Free Europe

CIA/International Operations Division routing slips raise questions about an attached Free Europe Committee (FEC) draft dated November 12 on the FEC’s role in the wake of the Hungarian Revolution and note that the FEC [in New York] did not forward to Radio Free Europe Munich certain CIA guidances on broadcast policy.

November 16, 1956

Proposed Interim Policy Guidance for Free Europe Committee, Draft

The State Department approves with “comments and recommendations” a November 15, 1956, CIA/International Operations Division draft of revised guidelines for the Free Europe Committee (FEC) with handwritten revisions [presumably by a State official].

Document Information

Source

Obtained and contributed to CWIHP by A. Ross Johnson. Cited Ch3 n21 in his book Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, CIA mandatory declassification review document number MORI 1426183.

Rights

The History and Public Policy Program welcomes reuse of Digital Archive materials for research and educational purposes. Some documents may be subject to copyright, which is retained by the rights holders in accordance with US and international copyright laws. When possible, rights holders have been contacted for permission to reproduce their materials.

To enquire about this document's rights status or request permission for commercial use, please contact the History and Public Policy Program at [email protected].

Original Uploaded Date

2012-07-20

Type

Policy Guidelines

Language

Record ID

114693

Donors

Blavatnik Family Foundation and Leon Levy Foundation