FOIA: Materials for Phsycological Warefare Support - Guatamala

Materials_for_Psychogical_Warfare_26_Jaan_1954.pdf
Materials for Phsycological Warefare Support - Guatamala
This is a report based on an analysis done on Materials for Psychological warfare suport in Guatamala.
Document date: 1954-01-26
Department: RQM1015 (possibly CIA)
Author: Deleted - Unknown
Document type: Report
pages: 18


Archivist's Notes: This report is based on the psychological warfare that was "waged" in Guatemala using different types of media. It also goes to mention that radio typically was not used as a tool for communistic propaganda nor suggested to fight this sort of propaganda due to sparse coverage and economic reasons. The typical target of anti-communistic media was woman; teachers and housewives etc. It also touches on restrictions placed on radio stations at certain times and that they typically run on temporary broadcast licenses - 6 months. The Government also exploited the talents of a poet Pablo Neruda, due to the following he has, and used it to their communistic advantage.

First of all the report is released after sanitation, that in and of itself should speak volumes as to the important facts which will be missing.

Materials for psychological propaganda: Word of mouth and film, pamphlets folders and news sheets,newspaper and magazines,radio broadcasting(71,000 radio sets were distributed in 1951) listen to mainly by professionals, commercial, students, military and women.

It goes on to give several examples of the letters the broadcast stations received,which must have been part of the propaganda and regularly read on the air, however it is curious to me how the writing styles seem very similar and not at all what I would have expected from a lower to middle class early 1950's Guatemalan, Honduran peoples style.

In doing so they were swaying the general public to the views of a more intellectual stand point. The general theme was to make note of the classical music being much better than the salsa type local music, and to praise the cultural discussions and sway peoples desire to learn more about international affairs and less interest in the local independent stations and political agendas.

There were 23 radio stations 3 of which were government owned. The other 20 stations had such strict government regulations and operated on temporary licences. If they spoke out against the government stations they would be easily shut down and replaced.

The Government transmitter "La Vos de Guatemala" (TGWA/TGWB)was used to implement certain agenda such as pre political elections. TGWA/TGWB was efficient in organizing the central American states from Cuba and the Dominican Republic Caribbean to the Central America.

Under the Arbens government, Guatemalan stations worked relatively free from excessive government control or interferences. Although following legal codes, they put pressure nonetheless on lukewarm or anti-administration stations.

As of 1951 programs operated by government had the following findings:
1. CONTROL- Emergency Restrictions: during time of disorders and national emergencies.
Political Coverage: Following the electoral codes on the surface however giving no air time to opposition and giving no excuse for the opposing party or candidates when they were scheduled to speak and were kept from doing so.
Domestic Services: Broadcasting patterns, after dissemination of TGWA/TGWB they no longer used the station to cast their agendas and views.
Anti US and British Propaganda: Allowing open disdain for the imperialists and capitalists, Mexican communist leader viciously attacks the US in what was the longest speech on record. Attending this rally was President Arbens.
Anti French sentiment as communistic views enter the radio mix.

And finally this document moves on to comments and suggestions:

1. Radio broadcasts can be useful psychological weapons against communists and communism in Guatemala.

2. Radio propaganda should be directed to disproving a governments claim and providing manufactured evidence when necessary.

3.Discrediting individuals who are in opposition.

4.Warning individuals who could be used by opposing agenda.

5.Citing examples and praising intellectuals who comply with agenda. (Such as the letters to the radio stations above.)

6. Discrediting the government on grounds of inefficiency, incompetency, etc. Particularly for being 'duped,deceived and trapped in its present unfavorable international situations.

7. Building up the impression that there is no advantage in supporting against the agenda, and giving the impression that the opposing agenda will stop at nothing short of the total destruction of their way of life.

8.Praising the energy of the new direction of Latin American women who had gone into teaching, intellectual accomplishments and and warning against false attractions which oppose the agenda.

Entertainment broadcasts to support propaganda :

Allowing entry into places such as New York to purchase music.
Utilizing better access to music which would get people to listen to their stations and have a greater chance at having listeners exposed to propaganda.

It then closes with the desired types of music, poetry and dialog to get the desired results from a wide range of listeners at different times of day or night.

Archivists notes: I found this quite disturbing for several levels, it reminds me greatly of the political arena which we see today unfolding around the 2008 election processes and the current world military conundrome with the middle East, Russia and China.

We always hear about propaganda and have a basic understanding of how it affects us all, yet this is a birds eye view of an experiment well done and which accomplished its goals without a hitch.

This was implemented successfully long before television or the World Wide Web, done primarily through radio transmission, I cannot help wonder how much more affective it can be done today in our technologically advanced states of entertainment and communication.

I highly suggest reading this document for yourself as it is in good shape and of excellent quality, this report is just a short summary of the experiment and its far reaching implications to the people it affected and still continue to control.

While reading I googled some information on Jacobo Arbenz Guzman President of Guatemala from 1951-1954
en.wikipedia.org...

Also found this piece of interest regarding the
1954 Guatemalan Coup d'etat if you are interested.
en.wikipedia.org...'%C3%A9tat

What a great analysis antar!

I see Guatemala (among other things) was the subject in many National Security Council (NSC) meetings during 1954.

May 27, 1954- Saudi Arabia, Great Britain, Iran, Gautemala, Nuclear Weapons

June 23, 1954- Guatemala, Defense Policy

August 5, 1954- Intelligence, Psychological Operations

Source: University of Michigan

From one perspective it might be a no-brainer to support the NSA's and CIA's operations against commies in latin america.

However one then gives pause to how much these types of manipulation occur closer to home! It is these types of questions, and the supporting evidence, which brings many here to ATS.

reply to post by Scramjet76


Fascinating Scramjet, in following your great links on this important subject, I discovered a most interesting website which begins with the history of communication in the year 35,000 BC with the first paleolithic writings to the year 1998.

In this piece the 'writing' is on the wall for how communication has conditioned and controlled societies and the world at large for thousands of years.

As technology increases it serves to further create the world around us.

desaingrafisindonesia.wordpress.com...

A newly released Army document, seems to have similar earmarks of this important piece. For more information and subsequent finding regarding the direction this operation has taken in the past 50+ years please visit the thread link below.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 5-12-2008 by antar]

Wanted to bring this Document back out to the forum. It has many similarities with current situations world wide.

Hey !

A 55 year-old document !

This is great !!

Thanks guys !

Once again giving this older thread a bumpity bump as it seems to be a good starting point for current discussion topics.

This is still extremely relevant to what we are witnessing today! How did we get here and where are we headed? A wealth of answers in this thread and the links provided. a reply to: antar