TRUDEAU SPEECH, NO. 19, ALTERED BY DEFENSE REVIEW UNDER STATE GUIDANCE Would you turn to speech No. 19? speech. Date of delivery February 1961. This is General Trudeau's With Soviet infiltration menacing this Nation and extending through the far corners of the globe, freedom of spirit and self stands in great jeopardy. The threat of catastrophic war again haunts the lover of liberty and the protagonist of peace. The Reds deliberately, fanatically, unceasingly strive to destroy the shreds of stability as we tower of peace founded on anarchy and chaos cannot stand. Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, I can. The note shows that the Army Branch of Security Review changed it under State Department guidance, coordinated with the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs. Senator THURMOND. This was not sent to the State Department? My answer is I do not know. Senator THURMOND. Would you find out, then, about that speech and tell us whether that was sent to the State Department? Mr. SYLVESTER. I will be glad to, Senator. Senator THURMOND. And if not, I want to know what policy guided the State Department in censoring those words? Mr. SYLVESTER. The notes here show that the change was made by the Army Branch, Security Review, under State Department guidance, coordinated with the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Public Affairs. Senator THURMOND. So you do censor matters when you feel that they violate State policy without sending them to State? Mr. SYLVESTER. I have not said that. I do not know the procedure under which this was handled. I can find out; I will find out and report back to you. Senator THURMOND. All right. That is No. 19. (The information requested is as follows:) Speech No. 19 was not sent to the Department of State. The change was made by the Directorate for Security Review with concurrence of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), under State guidance, to conform with the tenor of the inaugural address. TRUDEAU SPEECH SENT TO STATE BUT ALTERED BY DEFENSE REVIEW UNDER STATE GUIDANCE Now, will you turn to speech No. 21? This was a speech by General Trudeau, delivery date January 31, 1961. The following was deleted: Beyond a shadow of a doubt, your country and mine are the primary targets of the worldwide, all-out offensive of world communism. This offensive has forced nations that glory in free institutions to join in defending these priceless values. This is why-and the simple, sole and irrevocable reason-we and our allied arm-to counter the Communist threat. Since the day of their bloody revolution, the Soviets ceaselessly have increased their weapon capabilities against the day when, in Khrushchev's words-they will "bury us." Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, I can; Security Review, Army Branch, under State guidance. Senator THURMOND. Was that speech sent to the State Department? Mr. SYLVESTER. It is not indicated here whether it was or was not. Senator THURMOND. If it was not sent to the State Department, then the Security Branch, which is under your direction, is it notMr. SYLVESTER. It is. Senator THURMOND. Censored this speech, on the theory that it violated a regulation of the State Department. Is that correct? Mr. SYLVESTER. I don't know. Senator THURMOND. Well, I am asking you. Mr. SYLVESTER. I will have to find out. Senator THURMOND. Would you make note of that? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, Senator. (The information requested is as follows:) Speech 21 was sent to the Department of State and the changes were made under guidance furnished by State. SPEECH BY LOSEY, NO. 44, ALTERED BY STATE Senator THURMOND. Speech No. 44. Speech by Brig. Gen. Melvin Losey, Assistant Chief of Transportation, delivery date April 1, 1961: Now, however, a short 15 years later, our country faces a well-organized deadly challenge by the leaders of the Soviet Union and China with their vast human and material resources and the words "a well-organized deadly challenge by the leaders of the Soviet Union and China" were deleted and substituted in lieu thereof were the words "potential adversaries." Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. The change, as indicated here, was made by the State Department. SPEECH BY AILES, NO. 48, ALTERED BY STATE Senator THURMOND. Turn now to speech No. 48, a speech by the Honorable Stephen Ailes, Under Secretary of the Army, delivery date April 15, 1961. These words were deleted: We are looking the wrong way up a loaded gun. The man on the other end of the gun is a very unfriendly-looking fellow and a fellow who has a look in his eye that we do not really understand. Can you tell us who censored these words? Mr. SYLVESTER. The note indicates the Department of State, sir. SPPECH BY STAHR, NO. 51, ALTERED BY STATE Senator THURMOND. Turn to speech No. 51, page 1, with a second page you have got two page 1's. Mr. SYLVESTER. I beg your pardon, speech 51? Senator THURMOND. Speech 50. Mr. SYLVESTER. Speech 50? Senator THURMOND. I'm sorry, speech 51. Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, sir. Senator THURMOND. By the Honorable Elvis J. Stahr, Jr., Secretary of the Army; delivery date, March 14, 1961. He proposed to say this: I can think of no aspect of our national defense which is of greater significance today in view of the all-embracing nature of the threat of our liberty, our ideals, and indeed our very survival which is embodied in the aggressive aims and policies of militant communism, and the multiplicity of means by which that threat might be put into effect. Now, these words were deleted: *** which is embodied in the aggressive aims and policies of militant communism, and the multiplicity of means by which that threat might be put into effect. And substituted in lieu of these words: "*** which is present in the world today." Mr. SYLVESTER. I have a different page 51. Senator THURMOND. Turn to the next page, the second page. There are two page 51's. Mr. SYLVESTER. There are two 51's. Senator THURMOND. Yes. Mr. SYLVESTER. Oh. The second one-yes. Senator THURMOND. Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. State Department, apparently. Senator THURMOND. You say, subject to State Department changes? Mr. SYLVESTER. The note I have here, "probably State change. Senator THURMOND. Do you want to answer that it was State; or do you want to look into it?" Mr. SYLVESTER. I would like to answer this way, that the note before me says "probably State change," and, Senator Thurmond, I shall look into it and make sure this is precisely correct. (The information requested is as follows:) The change in speech No. 51 was made by the Department of State. STATE DELETED REFERENCE TO COMMUNIST AGGRESSION IN STAHR SPEECH Senator THURMOND. Thank you. Would you turn over to speech No. 55? This was a speech by Hon. Elvis J. Stahr, Jr., Secretary of the Army. Delivery date, September 6, 1961. The following was deleted: Communist leaders, if not actually planning to precipitate a war, have at least shown a penchant for taking all but the last [word unreadable] step toward the [word unreadable]. As a result, they have managed to advance [word unreadable] in southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East, and in Cuba. Can you tell us who censored that? Mr. SYLVESTER. Would you like for me, Senator, to give you the fill-in on those words you lack? Senator THURMOND. I would like for you to give the fill-in on the words missing. Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes. "Communist leaders" Senator THURMOND. Where it says, "all but the last," there are the words that are unreadable after "last"? Mr. SYLVESTER. There are three or four out, you see: “* * * all but the last step toward the brink." Senator THURMOND. 66* * * all but the last step toward the brink❞— "brink"? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, sir. Now, the next sentence, the lacking words "*** managed to advance their cause." Senator THURMOND. Would you kindly tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, sir. State Department. STATE DELETIONS IN SPEECH BY DARCY, NO. 72 Senator THURMOND. Would you turn over to speech No. 72? Mr. SYLVESTER. Maj. Gen. T. C. Darcy, Assistant for Western Affairs, Deputy Chief of the Plans and Programs-Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs. Senator THURMOND. Delivery date, May 21, 1960? Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, sir. Senator THURMOND. "The weapons of the cold war include politics, diplomacy, economics, propaganda, espionage, and every other action short of armed conflict." The word "espionage" is censored. "Clearly enough, our opponent here has been the Soviet Union." Now, that finishes the sentence. "Clearly enough, our opponent here has been the Soviet Union"-can you tell us who censored that? Mr. SYLVESTER. Marginal note; and I know that the State Department did. DEFENSE REVIEW ALTERED SPEECH LINKING NEED FOR WEST POINT TO FORCES OF AGGRESSION Senator THURMOND. All right, sir; would you turn speech No. 87? Mr. SYLVESTER. Maj. Gen. George R. Mather. over to Senator THURMOND. That is correct, Maj. Gen. George R. Mather. The delivery date, March 16, 1961. He proposed to say: It was in 1776 that Col. Henry Knox made the first proposal for a military academy in this country, and George Washington and others time and again urged that Congress provide for such an institution. It is clear, then, that the need for West Point existed long before it was established, and that this need will continue to exist so long as the forces of aggression confront us. And the words that were deleted are contained in the last line"*** so long as the forces of aggression confront us." 66* Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. The note here says that the source of the change is undetermined. I will make every effort to find out what the source of the change was, Senator. (The information requested is as follows:) The change was made by the Directorate for Security Review on recommendation of the Office, Assistant Secretary of Defense (Installations and Logistics) to conform to DOD policy in that the need for West Point is not necessarily tied to a confrontation by the forces of aggression. DEFENSE ENLARGES STATE DELETION TO KEEP CONTEXT, SPEECH NO. 131 Senator THURMOND. Would you turn to speech 131? Senator THURMOND. Delivery date, May 17, 1961, and these words were deleted: If we did not have this team of deterring military forces strong and in being, the United States would be a sitting duck for international blackmail. These nations under the leadership of communism could merely say, "Buy sugar here." "Send half of your gross national product to us." "We will send commissars to control your economy." "Abandon your churches," *** or "We will launch missiles to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver tomorrow at dawn." Can you tell us who censored that speech? Mr. SYLVESTER. It is indicated, Senator, that this is probably a State deletion. I will attempt to make it precise. (The information requested is as follows:) The Department of State deleted all but the first sentence; the Directorate for Security Review deleted the first sentence after the State change, since that sentence standing alone was no longer meaningful in context. QUESTION AS TO MEANING OF "TEAM OF DETERRING MILITARY FORCES" Senator STENNIS. What military forces were referred to there? Can you really tell? Mr. SYLVESTER. "These nations under the leadership of communism"-in my reading, it would be that the only ones that have missiles that have they could launch to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, is the Soviet Union. Senator STENNIS. No "if we did not have this team of deterring military forces strong and in being, the United States would be a sitting duck" Mr. SYLVESTER. I would hope, Senator, that that is all three services. Senator THURMOND. You might get speech No. — Senator STENNIS. Well, that is all right; we need not delay. I thought that we might pick up as we go along. Proceed, Senator. Senator THURMOND. All right. Speech No. 141, page 5. Mr. SYLVESTER. Excuse me, Senator, may I add that I should have said all four services. Senator STENNIS. All right. Senator THURMOND. Speech- Senator STENNIS. Correction sustained. Mr. SYLVESTER. Pardon me, Senator. DELETION IN WHITE SPEECH, NO. 141, MADE BY SPEAKER'S OFFICE Senator THURMOND. Speech No. 141, page 5, by Gen. Thomas D. White. Mr. SYLVESTER. Yes, sir. Senator THURMOND. Delivery date, January 30, 1961. This entire statement was deleted: Current communism propaganda to the world concentrates on the same central theme which it has always emphasized-the destruction of capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism. But under this guise they really intend the destruction of everything which does not bend to their will. Their's is the language of total war. They have a consistency and single-mindedness about promoting world revolution which is unique in the history of dictatorships. The only sensible view of Communist intentions is that they seek to destroy us by any means which they could use. |