SP RMROR Oobeg haba Share full knowledge of the factors involved in ou r present struggle so that they can influence policies anda rcept the full extent of the risks associated with those policies. Certain aspects of the Panel's proposal for a "program of psychological defense" have caused the Planning Boar s| 6, very considerable concern? It'is quite possible, however, that such nesative 17, 19), esults as apathy or hysteria, s3rowth of preventive-war or peaceat-any-price sentiment, and other difficulties fon the Government, may be much more significant than esti mated. b. Such a program, in itself, without extens ve supplementary prozrams, is estimated to have litt] e effect upon the physical destructiveness of an att ack (p. 14). The limited nature of the civil defense program So far, and the changing bases on which it has ope rated, have not been conducive to providing reassurance, The Panel points out that the strengthening of the civ il defense program is an essential supplement to its proposal (p, 13). If such strenzthening is to oc ur, it should probably be firmly committed before initia ton of the "progran of psychological defense" contemplated d by the Panel. Even with an adequate civil defense p1 Pomram, there is a limit to what individuals can do, and 1 therefore, to the “involvement” and reassurance providg d. ec. Such a program would entail emphasizing t@ the American public more or less suddenly that the sift uation is far worse than they have hitherto realized. If is not clear what justification the President would give for the initiation of the "monumental effort in the field of public enlightenment." If such an effort were comducted in a low key, it might not yield the desired resul ts, Moreover, there is no assurance that it could be kept in a low key. 0) _3- "7°" "nopBECRET cae ak . " The Panel acknowledges that such a program may dit re ss 2h aedCOR wR eae a. produce certain nezative reactions by the American public as temporary or minority phenomena (pp. 13,