WADSWORTH'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING IDEOLOGICAL TRAINING

Mr. KENDALL. Do you have any specific recommendations that might improve troop information in the ideological field of world events of an anti-Communist nature?

Commander WADSWORTH. I think that those people who would present the threat of communism to service personnel have to give several considerations. One of these is that a program has to be flexible because we have personnel in the service, enlisted personnel, some of whom have perhaps not completed their high school education, whose knowledge of American history and tradition, the way our government works, is all but nil.

On the other hand, we have enlisted personnel who are college grad

uates.

I know personally of a case where an enlisted man has a degree in law; another, a degree in dentistry, and so on; so that the program, if it is on too simplified and too elementary a level, will not have any attraction or appeal to the well-educated individual; and, on the other hand, if it is too sophisticated, it will pass the individual by who has not had the benefit of a good education.

So that one consideration then is flexibility and ability to have a sophisticated program, if it is needed, an ability to have a very simple program if it is needed, and any variation in between.

Secondly, I think it should be understood and expected that a really effective program is going to suffer from attack, and by scanning the titles of some front organizations on the Attorney General's list, I think one could almost predict some of the organizations that might protest against an indoctrination program that is really hard hitting and effective.

And incident to embarking on a really effective training program, I believe that the posture to be maintained throughout such attacks should be established beforehand and held to unflinchingly throughout the course of any criticism.

Senator STENNIS. The course of any what?

Commander WADSWORTH. Incident to any criticism that might come from without.

There is also an inherent danger in a crash program, because the subject matter requires very close study under supervision, principally because the volume of material is so vast that one has to be discriminating, and I believe that unqualified instructors have a very deleterious effect on the program.

There are certain areas, certain vehicles that we have already in existence that lend themselves well to support of such a program. We have station libraries and so on. I believe that station libraries could dramatize their hard-hitting anticommunism literature so that it will attract those who come into the library as opposed to simply filing it away and making it something that has to be searched out under title and author.

At present there is almost a minimum amount of reading material on the subject of communism that at least comes my way, and certainly not adequate for the numbers of personnel with whom we have to deal at Great Lakes.

There are station newspapers in almost every Army and Navy and Air Force post. They are an ideal vehicle for a regular type of treatment on this subject, didactic treatment that will inform and instruct and yet not be so long as to bore.

We could learn a lesson from Lenin who wrote pamphlets as opposed to some people who write big, thick books that cost a lot of money. I think 100 pamphlets or even two-page sheets would be far more effective than 100 books.

I believe that the stations could give attention to monitoring the reading material that is on sale.

Senator STENNIS. Pardon me now, Commander.

You say the "station." You are speaking in terms of the "station"? Commander WADSWORTH. Military stations, Naval stations, and Army bases.

Senator STENNIS. You mean all units?

Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir, all units.

Senator STENNIS. All right.

Commander WADSWORTH. Could monitor the reading material that is on sale at exchanges. They could be discriminating in the films that are shown to their personnel. I believe that this is a quality control as opposed to censorship. In any event, when public funds are used to purchase films for showing overseas, quality control is certainly in order, and I believe the Navy could refute a charge of censorship in this particular area.

There has been a dearth of hard-hitting, anticommunism literature on the bookshelves in the Navy exchange and even in the public bookstores. I believe that through open purchase this situation can be remedied.

If commanding officers know what books are good, if they are advised what books are good, I believe that supply officers could then acquire these books even though it might mean purchasing from other than their usual sources.

In some commands the opportunity presents itself to form study groups to study communism in greater depth. An abundant supply of material is available for this purpose that might not be appropriate for general use.

I believe that recommended reading lists could be disseminated specifically on this subject. These could be reprinted in station newspapers.

Reviews could be given, short reviews.

Senator STENNIS. You mean reviews of books?

Commander WADSWORTH. Reviews of the books, yes, sir, to entice people to go and look at them. I believe that in connection with the troop training program, I think it is imperative that we focus our attention on the ideology of communism and perhaps recognize, or recognize that perhaps the political threat, the economic threat and so on are but merely manifestations of the ideological threat, and are merely institutional forms through which the ideological threat is being carried out, pursued.

Quite frequently, we seem to overemphasize the military aspects, the economic aspects, and these are indeed threats. But treatment of the subject in that light leaves unanswered what is behind the threat.

Why do they do these things?

Only by a study of the ideology can we have an understanding of why they are doing what they are doing. Other means which could be implemented would be a weekly or biweekly authoritative unclassified summary of events and thinking on the subject. These would be of value to schools where the subject is being taught.

They would be of use to those who have been asked and are willing to speak on the subject either before service audiences or before civilian groups.

There is possibly even a need, as I believe Senator Dodd has proposed, for a school to concentrate on nothing else until a nucleus of knowledge is developed.

I believe that in connection with this indoctrination, these aspects which pertain mostly to the field, that the indoctrination should not be overlooked here in Washington, and that, within the Defense Department itself, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force in Washington, that seminars and indoctrination programs should be presented at all levels as well.

Senator STENNIS. To whom?

Commander WADSWORTH. To everyone from top to bottom and bottom to top.

Senator STENNIS. You mean within the military?
Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir.

Senator STENNIS. You mean the Joint Chiefs of Staff on down? Commander WADSWORTH. Well, I believe, I am certain there are people who understand the problem, but I believe also that lack of understanding is not confined to the lower levels, and that the indoctrination program should not ignore the upper levels.

Senator STENNIS. I just want to be sure that we understand you. We have got to interpret all this testimony. You say that it is needed from top to bottom. I am not challenging that. I just want to be certain, though, as to what you mean.

When I asked you if it really extended from the top officers down, you seemed to qualify it in some ways.

Commander WADSWORTH. I would qualify it. I made an initially broad statement. I think that the opportunity should be given for officers at all levels within the Defense Department to receive this type of indoctrination, particularly if they have not had it.

And I know that many of them have attended the Armed Forces Staff College where they have received excellent material, and this, of course, would not apply in many cases.

Senator STENNIS. You mean there is only a small percent that gets to go to those schools, is that right?

Commander WADSWORTH. I would not know what the percentage is. Senator STENNIS. I know.

Commander WADSWORTH. But I would venture to say that it is not a large percent; yes, sir.

Senator STENNIS. You would have these lectures available to all; is that your idea? I am just trying to get something definite and clear in my mind as to what you have in mind, Commander.

Commander WADSWORTH. Well, as to actually the organizational structure through which this type of information program might be conducted in the Defense Department, I would have to refine my

thinking considerably and get down to nuts and bolts aspects. This I have not done. I believe this area deserves attention, however. Senator STENNIS. Some further consideration of an effective program that would make these lectures and the information and material available to all groups of officers, not just the few that go to these special schools, as it is now set up, is that your idea?

Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir.

Senator STENNIS. And you think that applies from the junior officers that may be on duty in the Pentagon or the Washington environs on up through the general officers?

Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir.

Senator STENNIS. All right, I understand.

All right, you may complete your recommendations.

Commander WADSWORTH. This does complete all the recommendations I have, sir.

WADSWORTH'S OFFICIAL AND SPARE-TIME ACTIVITIES

Senator STENNIS. All right, Mr. Kendall's time has expired. I want to ask you a few questions now.

Referring to your statement, the last page of your statement is headed, "Briefly, my activity in this area during the past 2 years has consisted of the following measures," and then you recite (a) through (e).

Are you referring to your official activities, or are these activities of yours in addition to your official work? One or the other or both?

Commander WADSWORTH. In respect to item (a), considerable reading and writing on the subject, inasmuch as the threat of communism is a subject taught in the

Senator STENNIS. Pardon me, now. I am on limited time, and I think, anyway, a witness hits the bell better when he makes as brief a statement as he can in response.

Commander WADSWORTH. All right, sir.

Senator STENNIS. And I have only 10 minutes to examine you. Commander WADSWORTH. All right, Senator.

Several of these areas overlap with my official capacity.

Senator STENNIS. Yes, I imagined that that was it.

Commander WADSWORTH. And some of these functions I perform in connection with my official work and the others I do in my spare time. Senator STENNIS. I commend you for that part that you do on extra time beyond your official time, as well as your attitude about your work.

This listing here of (a) through (e), shows your pattern of what can be done and something that should be done in addition to your official duties; is that right?

Commander WADSWORTH. I believe these are necessary things to be done, yes, sir.

WHETHER WADSWORTH IS RESTRICTED IN ACTIVITIES

Senator STENNIS. Let me ask you this, Commander. You have been in terest in it, it seems.

this important work, and you have a special inHave you felt yourself restricted or limited by

any kind of surveillance that holds you back, so to speak, in getting over this work or indoctrinating these men and these leaders, or in carrying out your mission in any way?

Commander WADSWORTH. In respect to indoctrination of service personnel, I feel no restraint.

Senator STENNIS. All right.

What about the other phases of your activities?

Commander WADSWORTH. My activity in the other areas has simply been to survey or to oversee the seminar as sort of the liaison officer between the seminar personnel and my commanding officer in order to keep my commanding officer informed, and in that capacity I am often consulted with by the enlisted men who have given the seminar.

Senator STENNIS. Have you been held back or restricted in any way in your anti-Communist activities or in anti-Communist training? Commander WADSWORTH. There have been certain events which caused the seminars to be suspended.

Senator STENNIS. You are talking about public seminars?
Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir; public seminars.

RESTRICTIONS OF TIME AND FUNDS

Senator STENNIS. We will come to that in a minute, but you doubtless have felt some restrictions of time?

Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir.

Senator STENNIS. I want to eliminate those. Have you felt any restrictions in money; that is, so far as your work is concerned, have you been so limited because of funds not being allowed for these activities that you felt handicapped?

pur

Commander WADSWORTH. There are no special funds set aside for this purpose per se, and so any funds that might be consumed in chasing literature for an indoctrination use have to come out of training funds, and some other area has to suffer, so that it has been primarily an undertaking without funds insofar as it has been possible. Senator STENNIS. Without special funds?

Commander WADSWORTH. Without special funds.

Senator STENNIS. But have you felt a limitation in your manpower or your equipment or anything that relates to your program that money could supply?

Commander WADSWORTH. The money could provide an abundance of excellent indoctrination material.

Senator STENNIS. Yes.

Commander WADSWORTH. That otherwise is not available.
Senator STENNIS. Yes, like the pamphlets you mentioned?
Commander WADSWORTH. Yes, sir.

DISCUSSION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF WADSWORTH RECOMMENDATIONS

Senator STENNIS. By the way, these recommendations that you made, were they in addition to the present program, supplemental to it, or just what category do they fall into?

Commander WADSWORTH. I would say some of them are not contained within the present program at all, and others would be very simple things to implement within the framework that exists.

80752-62-pt. 5- -2