The special subcommittee met, pursuant to recess, at 10:05 a.m., in room 224, Old Senate Office Building. Present: Senators Stennis (chairman), Thurmond, and Saltonstall. Also present: Powell Pierpoint, General Counsel, Department of the Army. Special subcommittee staff: James T. Kendall, chief counsel. Senator STENNIS (presiding). The subcommittee will come to order. This is Major Stevenson. Major, you have already been sworn? STEVENSON BIOGRAPHY Senator STENNIS. Mr. Reporter, put in the record at this place the biographical sketch of Major Stevenson. (The biographical sketch referred to is as follows:) HOWARD G. STEVENSON, MAJOR, U.S. ARMY OFFICE, CHIEF OF INFORMATION, U.S. ARMY, NEW YORK BRANCH Maj. Howard G. Stevenson is responsible mainly for activities in the New York branch which relate to providing background information and pictorial support to magazine writers and book authors working on articles and books which have principally or in part an Army theme. Major Stevenson attended Ohio State University and received his bachelor's degree in journalism in 1943. He was commissioned in the artillery and served in Germany during World War II as a forward observer with the 28th Infantry Division. Following his return to the United States in 1947 he attended the University of Wisconsin where he received his master's degree in journalism and public relations. Thereafter, Major Stevenson served as press officer at 5th Army Headquarters until August 1950 when he joined the headquarters staff of the IXth U.S. Army Corps which was Korea bound. Major Stevenson was an information officer with the IXth Corps until the close of November 1951 when he was assigned to the Japan Logistical Command, again in an information capacity. For his Korean War service he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Returning to the United States in April 1953, Major Stevenson served for 3 years with the Office of Public Information at Department of Defense level. He completed the Advanced Officers' Artillery Course at Fort Sill before going to Germany where he served first as the Information Officer with Headquarters VIIth U. S. Army Corps and later, for two years, as the U. S. Army, Europe, Press Liaison Officer at the American Embassy in Bonn, Germany. 80752-62-pt. 5-8 2051 From November 1959, when he returned to the United States, to the present, Major Stevenson has served with the staff of Office, Chief of Information's New York Branch. STEVENSON STATEMENT Senator STENNIS. You have a prepared statement? TESTIMONY OF HOWARD G. STEVENSON, MAJOR, U.S. ARMY, OFFICE, CHIEF OF INFORMATION, U.S. ARMY, NEW YORK BRANCH Major STEVENSON. I do. Senator STENNIS. Would you proceed? Major STEVENSON. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, my name is Howard G. Stevenson, major, U.S. Army. I am a member of the Office, Chief of Information, U.S. Army, New York branch. I am here at the invitation of the subcommittee to offer testimony concerning matters falling within the area of my responsibility. First, may I explain that the general mission of the New York branch is to represent the Chief of Information, Department of the Army, in information matters in the New York City area. Specifically, in my capacity as Chief of the Magazine, Book, and News Section, I serve as liaison between the Office, Chief of Information, and the magazine and book publishing firms located in the Metropolitan New York area. I receive and act upon requests from magazine writers and editors and book authors and publishers for information and assistance in developing articles and books having an Army theme. Additionally, I coordinate Department of Defense accreditation applications for writers who desire to visit specific Army installations abroad to obtain photographs and story material of an unclassified nature for use in the preparation of magazine articles and books. In working with magazine writers and book authors, I do not differentiate among the various publications they work for. When a writer or photographer contacts the branch for assistance, I check to determine that he is an authorized media representative and is working for or on assignment with the publication he says he represents. The Magazine and Book Section does not attempt to direct how the information is to be used; rather, it operates on the principle that, if the information is unclassified, it should be made available to the writer. However, if the writer desires, the manuscript may be submitted to the Army for an accuracy check. The Army's policy is to cooperate with news agencies and publishing houses regardless of the quality of the publication. The noncooperation with or the barring of bona fide representatives of the news media or of freelance writers normally cannot be justified. Obviously the Army will not cooperate with the development of sensational or exposé-type articles, but even here we are obliged to answer specific questions of an unclassified nature. With respect to the indications given by the subcommittee that it desires details concerning my intelligence training, I wish to state that I have never received any academic training in intelligence other than that received in Officer Candidate School. SUBCOMMITTEE HEARING SCHEDULE Senator STENNIS. All right, Major. I want to make an announcement here about the witnesses. Those of you gentlemen who have been summoned, asked to be here at least today as prospective witnesses, the list I have, in addition to Major Stevenson, is Major Comer and then Rear Admiral Lowrance and Commander Hardenburg and Maj. Gen. Arthur C. Agan, and yesterday I read out as a list of witnesses for today Rear Adm. W. E. Gentner, Jr., Chairman, Navy and Marine Cold War Advisory Panel. It seems that Senator Thurmond did not hear the call of Admiral Gentner's name, or overlooked it in some way, and he was not prepared to question the admiral today. Is Admiral Gentner here? Anyway, Senator, can you be ready for him in the morning? Senator STENNIS. That will be fine. We will then leave it as it is. Maybe it will work out. Anyway, it is the purpose of the committee to take these witnesses just as fast as we reasonably can, consistent with the obligation that we have, and we propose to take them, unless there is some extraordinary reason to the contrary, in the order in which I have called the names. Mr. Kendall, do you have any questions for Major Stevenson? Senator STENNIS. Senator Thurmond, may I call on you? MISSIONS OF NEW YORK BRANCH OF U.S. ARMY INFORMATION SERVICE Senator THURMOND. Major Stevenson, I understand you are the assistant chief of the New York branch, U.S. Army Information Office in New York City, is that correct? Major STEVENSON. That is correct, sir. Senator THURMOND. Your office is under direct supervision of the Chief of Information of the Army? Major STEVENSON. Yes, sir; it is. Senator THURMOND. I believe you stated that in the opening remarks. Major STEVENSON. Yes, sir. Senator THURMOND. Could you briefly outline the additional missions of the New York branch of the U.S. Army Information Office? Major STEVENSON. Additionally, the branch is staffed to assist requests from other media, including the radio and television fields, and motion pictures activity as well, and then there is an officer who handles what is known as special projects. That is more or less of an inclusive title, and, on occasions, I am aware of the fact that he has worked with organizations engaged in the activities of a national scope. That, of course, is a qualified consideration. We do not deal simply with the local news outlets. Our activities relate to those media which are national in scope. For example, I would not work with the newspapers per se, the Tribune, the Times, and the others, but I would work with the wire associations, UPI, ÁP, and the others. DUTIES OF STEVENSON IN NEW YORK OFFICE Senator THURMOND. What is your specific function in the office? Major STEVENSON. My specific function is a very simple, routine one. I answer requests for information about the Army, its activities, its history, its personalities. I either draw from my files available to me, which, for the most part, are limited, or I am able to contact the Office of the Chief of Information in Washington and draw upon a vaster network of files of information. I also provide pictorial support for book authors and magazine writers who are writing articles having an Army theme, and they have availiable to them through us considerable file material on the various Army activities, combat photos from World War II, the Korean war and so on. Since ours is a public service and a tax-supported activity, we provide these on a gratis basis. ACTIVITIES OF S. L. A. MARSHALL Senator THURMOND. Major, I want to clarify something in my own mind. Recently, we established that Gen. S. L. A. Marshall had been in frequent contact with your office. Can you recall his visits to your office? Major STEVENSON. Yes, sir; I do. Senator THURMOND. Has he been assigned to your office? Major STEVENSON. I am not intimately acquainted with the details of his original status; that is, prior to his retirement a year ago. But he did have, I believe, a mobilization designation assignment in conjunction with our office, with the New York Branch. Senator THURMOND. He does not hold an assignment there now? Major STEVENSON. He no longer holds an assignment; no, sir. Senator THURMOND. Since approximately a year ago? Major STEVENSON. Since his retirement he no longer holds an assignment there. Senator THURMOND. I assume he did not act on behalf of the Chief of Information of the Army during his testimony before this committee. Do you know of General Marshall's contacts with your office and the Chief of Information of the Department of the Army? Major STEVENSON. Do I know what, sir? Senator THURMOND. Do you know of General Marshall's contacts with the Chief of Information of the Department of the Army? Major STEVENSON. I am not intimately acquainted with his activities as such, Senator. I have been aware, of course, that the man has visited the office on occasions in connection with activities. As to the complete nature of them, I could not say. COMMENTS ON MARSHALL TESTIMONY Senator THURMOND. Of course, I did not object to General Marshall's testimony. In fact, I believe that he made constructive con tributions to the knowledge of this subcommittee, and certainly to my understanding of problem areas. However, his activities in the information field is of interest to He testified on many aspects of military operations which are really an intelligence function. me. For example, his statements about Communist infiltration in the U.S. Army were of value. He mentioned that he had knowledge of some Army officers who had to be kept on ice because of presumed Communist Party connections. Are you familiar with this testimony, Major? Major STEVENSON. No, sir, I am not. Senator THURMOND. He also mentioned that he knew of a case of the surrender of a U.S. Army company in Korea because, as he said, the commander had been a Communist. Do you know that General Marshall told us this? Major STEVENSON. I heard it mentioned in the testimony given yesterday in passing, but I do not have personal knowledge of it. Senator THURMOND. Major Stevenson, I know that you are familiar with the staff organization and responsibilities. Knowledge of Communist infiltration, subversion, and propaganda directed against the military is an intelligence function, is that not correct? Major STEVENSON. I understand so. DISCUSSION ON QUALIFICATIONS OF INFORMATION OFFICERS Senator THURMOND. The other day Admiral Smith, the Navy Information Officer, testified and indicated little knowledge of enemy propaganda, subversion, and agitation. Do you feel an information officer can separate himself from knowledge about communism? Major STEVENSON. I think, as an individual, an information officer is always aware of communism. Senator THURMOND. Did you say he is aware or should be aware? Major STEVENSON. I am presuming, but I say is aware. As an information officer, he probably reads a good deal more and knows a good deal more. Senator THURMOND. Of course, you do not know whether he is aware or not? Major STEVENSON. I say I presume. Senator THURMOND. You presume he is? Major STEVENSON. Yes, sir. Senator THURMOND. Do you think information officers must be thoroughly familiar with the techniques of Communist agitation and the methods used in manipulating public opinion? Major STEVENSON. It is not required as such because of their position as an information officer. Senator THURMOND. Well, if propaganda is one of their cold war weapons, the information officers of the services must, quite apparently, be versed in propaganda techniques of the enemy, do you not think? Major STEVENSON. A public information officer does not necessarily have to be qualified in that respect, since we deal with civilian news media who are more interested in what we can do for them in terms |