each week, reel america brings you context for today's in the film, agency director george allen uses a variety of charts and film lips to analyze soviet propaganda for a group of u.s. military leaders. the topics covered include communist radio broadcast, books, and youth music festivals. this is about 40 minutes.

♪ >> gentlemen, as you know, mr. allen has been in the thick of the cold war since it's very beginning. his recordiliar with as a career diplomat and troubleshooter. four times in critical. he was assigned to frontline s in iran,ial post

yugoslavia, india, and greece. decided when congress we ought to have an overseas information program on a more or less permanent basis, mr. allen was put in charge. last fall, the president decided that this important activity needed mr. allen again. meetings attends the cabinet and the national security council. allen, why is everything else the other sites as propaganda will we say is information? it was originally a perfectly good word, but it brings to people's minds now, the idea of

twisting or distorting the truth , or even manufacturing complete falsehood, where as we try in our service output to give as a factual presentation that we can. it is information, and should be called as such, and not propaganda. an exampleu give us of soviet propaganda as applied to the armed services these people represent. >> i have with me a book today that the soviet government puts trainingit supports courses of the armed forces of the soviet union. it is called marxist leninism on war and the army. i will read you description of the way it talks about american army officers. it says u.s. armed service

--icers are corrupt, week street, and wall [indiscernible] i call that propaganda. oft applies to all officers the armed forces. of soviethave a piece propaganda that apply specifically to the army? >> i would like to show you a film of a meeting of the american and soviet armed forces at the end of the last war, and you will see how the soviet their information service presents this meeting of the two armies. could we have the film? ♪ lets you are really happened

before we see scenes from the soviet film. hi,re outside at april 26 -- 26, 1945. you will see a glimpse of this bridge in the background. took place to arrange a meeting of corps commanders on the following day. prior to this time, only the crews of the two armies had contact each other. major generals from each side. ineral reinhardt said " crossed the river and waited for a short time.

the details for meeting the two poor commanders for the next day. i was impressed with the cordial attitude of the russians." now to the soviet version. russian] ♪

[cheering]

>> now for the soviet proof that our army officers are corrupt. and his lady friend stockbroker in his office. this is a literal translation of what they are saving. [indiscernible] what is the market doing? general: our stocks are going. girlfriend: [indiscernible] broker: i am making money like crazy.

>> what to the communists have to say concerning the air force? toi would like for you listen to a broadcast from moscow on that subject, could we have that soundtrack? >> you are too into radio moscow -- tuned committee oh roscoe -- two radio moscow. an associated press dispatch tells us that an american saber debt accidentally job -- dropped jet dropped some rockets over florida. the population has been alerted and the city has been warned of

danger. this made me doubt that the rocket fall was the result of an accident. everyeport gives us report for questioning accidents in general. it seems that approximately 70% of the officers are socko neurotic -- psycho erotic -- psychoneurotic. the air minerals to doing study, nuclear patrols. and what about the united states navy and marine corps? >> i have a copy here of the soviet newspaper that was published. may 18 this year.

it speaks about what is going on in the mediterranean. lebanon hangsgh militarythreat of intervention by the imperialist states led by the united states, the american command has doubled the lead it enforces -- landing forces attack -- attached to the sixth fleet street the imperialists are openly brandishing weapons. but no matter how the colonists try, they cannot intimidate the people of the middle east and the lebanese people who are depending the freedom and independence of their country. >> that is typical of the statements they are making about the united states navy and impure -- marine corps.

mr. a lens don't the soviets , does they intend to show the americans are -- >> i also saw that when i was serving in india. they try to make it appear that the americans are the most race conscious people in the world. the experience of people in that part of the world really with americans is the best way to counteract that when our naval tips -- ships or armed services are based in those parts of the world. that is the most useful way to combat that type of soviet propaganda. also last fall, we had a magnificent experience with through the far

east in india, making her appearances as an american and speaking to the people about the racial questions in the united american negro. an excellent count the propaganda. in my the interesting to take a look at that. ♪ >> this time in german and korea , this is your home away from home.

♪ >> this scene from the soviet film depicts another army activity for an oriental theater goer. it is the fate of the scoring girl to be taken up the hill for a don execution. girl -- korean girl to be taken up the hill for a dawn execution.

here is a little -- literal translation of their conversation. the officer says if you surrender even now, the life can be saved. the daughter of the partisan, even though captured by the americans, is certain that you will pay. it pays me not to live to see you pay. live to seenot to you pay. >> it appears to me that this must involve an elaborate chain of command. >> i draw your attention to this chart. the soviet government has gone all out for propaganda, and recently we have seen they have

written several letters to president eisenhower. to theters are addressed president of the united states, but they are intended to all the world for propaganda purposes, not as a serious document from one government to another. --e the soviet government the soviet government is headed by a small group of people in moscow who run the 200 million people of the soviet union. elements -- the government and the party machine . those are quite separate. the government is merely a bureaucracy. the party machine has the power. these alternate means of communications and contacts with foreign people to spread their propaganda. , the for example, radio

soviet government, every week, and some 54 languages, sends out being tos of broadcast foreign countries in foreign languages. how can they do that in one week? in each language, they do so many hours. you will buy the hours by the number of languages. they have mass books and publications that they sent abroad in various for liquid is -- four languages -- foreign languages. eastof those in the far are in english, because that is the best ways to reach the intelligent public in those countries. they use exchanges, they use

large numbers of indians, egyptians, chinese, anybody else they can get to the soviet union , give them towards, -- tours, said them to universities. great party congresses of communist parties, they call them together and have big moscow.-- meetings in going back a minute for exchanges -- the soviet union put on one stunt last summer in which they spent more money than the entire united states government does for all of its intelligence and cultural year, thefor all senate union had 50,000 -- soviet union had 50,000 students

brought for a great use fellow festival.used -- youth to thisare brought stadium to cure about the soviet version of these. -- peace. the national flag of participating delegations matching their review. ♪ >> followed by groups displaying their national banner. ♪ word -- this word is

russian for peace. this is the delegate reported to be from the united states. [cheering] >> in keeping with professionalism, the russian s release white doves, and age-old symbol of these. -- peace. entertainmente climaxes with a spectacular display of precision formations. ♪ >> delegates also sightsee in

the kremlin during some of the daylight hours, and this is a ceremony as boys selects the a scarf aroundng them, soviet version of drop the handkerchief. ♪ >> summer entertained at the ballet. -- some are entertained at the ballet. ♪ >> outside, in the streets, there is entertainment of all kinds. is a currentng, it

vaceous cutie --but it is back to the stadium for the grand propaganda finale. hope must be eliminated. the bomb and the eagle. [indiscernible] piece in russia, english, and france. >> what percentage of people who attend these festivals are communist? isthe best we can tell you

of the 50,002 went last summer, we estimate that about half of non-communist, 25,000. i was in greece at the time myself, and there were about 200 greek young people who went to the festival. many of them just wanted the chancet was a trance -- to see the soviet union. if they were going to pay the expenses, -- in that case, the soviet union took the young man from greece and kept them there and goodng -- a month -- kept them in a hotel in good accommodations and took them to

the finest performances, the opera and so forth, and back to equivalent --t all for the equivalent of $50. there are use organizations -- youth organizations that do not admit they are communist, but they are infiltrated and run by communist hard-core organizations, who throughout communist propaganda throughout the world. they have complete control of all their means of communications, and they can say one thing and the soviet union and an entirely different thing outside the soviet union, or even in two different countries. was aexample, when there

threat of an attack on syria by turkey, as the syrians claim. the soviet union was telling that to syria, they were broadcasting that in the syrian language to the syrians. to the turks, they were telling the turks that the americans were using them as tools to attack the syrians. theve a chart that shows way the soviet union parcels out its radio broadcasting in these many languages in order to get as much of a varied affect as they can. part ofple, in the low the chart it shows how much broadcasting the soviet onion -- union does overseas. that is $900 a week.

-- 900 hours a week. hours, 730 american week. the other broadcast by european they do aboutes, the same amount altogether as the soviet union does. these 317 hours on my communist are done by communist china. then 108 hours are being various clandestine radio broadcasters who are situated in one place or another, claiming they are the

broadcast, -- they are actually from north korea, but they are claiming they are the south korean broadcast. they use these to do broadcast it -- orhe soviet or a. i have some figures about publications of the magazines. they are putting out 85 periodicals in 30 different languages. magazines andns quarterly reviews, and things of that sort. last year, they put 100 million books into the free world. >> they usually sell them at very low prices, don't they?

>> yes, they usually give them away. >> what is the main communist themes for the propaganda today? >> i have these charts here. >> these are five simple propaganda themes of the soviet union. one of them is that it is the united states puts up the iron curtains will the soviet union seeks -- while the soviet union seeks closer relationships with everybody. secondly, they are constantly is ag the united states warmongering country, that we want to bring around a world war war while thed andet union wants peace disarmament. they also say that capitalism is

falling while they will surpass us in production. soviet union the and its allies also pass the united states in growth and strength, and the united states is fighting a losing battle to maintain its close he is -- it's colonialist hold on asia and africa. >> these are all examples of communist propaganda successes. are there some things they can't cover, even if they're highly --ented propaganda yucca propaganda? >> we have seen about effect on soviet public relations -- a bad by the soviet prime minister of hungary. there have been tremendous demonstrations in paris, london,

socialistslaces by and left-wing people who are terribly annoyed against the soviet union, and it is nothing that their propaganda line can do about it. by the communists using film a lot in this film? >> yes, they are. in the entertainment industry, they have been very active. >> there is a film about a girl who was a red army sniper and a boy who is an american officer. they are shipwrecked and fall in love. happens --hat this happens in this communist love

story. across the ice comes the sniper- girl, a red army , and a white russian officer. she has killed 40 men with her rifle. >> the cross, warned by the man, is another identification of the and to me -- enemy. >> you had better wait outside until you are ready.

idiot.t be an the wind is still raging. you are liable to catch your death out there. you and your high and mighty sick.ake me this is the front line, not the joying room. -- drawing room. sick. this is the front line, notwhat? anybody would think you are shy. >> the communist girl, eager to fight, now finds her prisoner sick and discouraged. >> the never-ending tide of hatred and death.

it is all just a nightmare. >> no one likes it, but it is the price of progress. >> you can have it. as far as i'm concerned, all i want is peace. >> and other words, you don't care if our enemies scheme to destroy us. so long as you can read your book, they can go hang. >> why should i hang the world on my shoulders? what is the world done for me? >> though he opposes communism, our hero becomes confused. >> there are so many, the russians, the germans, the bolshevik. i say to hell with the lot. i won't soil my hands again. i don't care. i am no longer interested. >> i see. wait.'t be angry, i didn't mean to hurt you.

don't you understand, i am sick at heart. let's get away from here. i have a summer house. tell me you will go with me. i will be good to you. >> you're asking me to turn my back on my conscience. tocast aside my obligations, lounge around on cushion spot with candy on the lood -- blood of my comrades. >> don't be so melodramatic. >> i should do it like you and pretend it doesn't exist. >> is that all? i wonder how you can blow yourself up with so much hot air and forget you are a woman. >> it has been thrust on me like people like you. how dare you think i could so far forget the self that i could forget my cause and lie around my house in idleness. >> that is about all i can stand. come what you are.

you there is such a thing as chivalry. i hate you! ♪ [crying] >> why did i have to fall in love with you? you destroyed my peace of mind. i thought you would understand. you were cleverer than i was. >> don't cry. it will work out.

i promise. let's forget. i love you so much. you do love me too? >> mm-hmm. of waiting to be rescued. and her love blooms embraces communism. >> i will commit suicide. >> where is all the courage i credited you with? [laughter] >> it shows the demoralizing picture i have. you and your wishful taking, i can only hope i have brought you don't earth a bit. have i? >> you have. >> so that you admit you are wrong? >> thanks you i have stopped fussing.

i cannot go back to my books, there is work to be done. damn me, i'm livid. i am no longer makeek and mild. i am a man with a purpose. >> you might at least tell me what it is. >> as i see it, my country needs me more now than ever. idealism must give way to realism. if my future were left in your hands, i dread to think what you would make of it. by all that is holy -- a sail! a sail! [laughter] [both shouting] >> we have to give them a

signal. >> they will come anyway. >> they could be going further east. >> just in case. get that, quick. hurry! >> got it. [gun shots] [both shouting] >> who is it? >> i'm not sure they're fisherman at all. you had better fire another shot. [gun shot] hooray! come on! hey! >> stop! you're my prisoner. you shant escape again.

stop! [gun shot] >> the 41st victim of her rifle, and the title of the picture. >> mr. allen, how can we compete with this communist propaganda in view of the fact that the communist can resort to any deceit, whereas we have to stick to the truth? we shouldnd foremost, do more of what we have been doing this afternoon. we should recognize soviet topic sovietn we see it or -- propaganda when we see it or hear it. sometimes it is disguised. most americans do not realize

how much is being put out or what it is when they see it. secondly, we must do more ourselves. more counter propaganda, more presenting the story of the united states, the american way of life, the democratic principles that we stand for. this afternoon, we've only considered with the soviets are doing in this field. i don't think we happen holding our hands and doing nothing. we have to done as much as we should, because we americans are not inclined in the propaganda field, but we have realized that it has to be done. we are doing more of it. thirdly, perhaps more importantly, we should do everything that we can to deprive the communists of fertile ground in which to plant propaganda.

as far as the government is concerned, government should follow policies which make the united states admired and respected, as much as we can. there are many cases in which we cannot please everybody, but our policies should have a public relations aspect to them. friends.d win more than that, each individual american should behave, when dealing with foreigners, in a way that makes foreigners like us as individual americans and respect us. then, these signs will continue. they won't have fertile ground. they won't catch all, if all of us americans, civilian and military, behave in the way that we should. >> thank you, mr. allen, for

this interesting discussion. ♪ ♪ >> you are watching " american history tv," 48 hours of

programming on american history every weekend on c-span3. follow us on twitter for information on our schedule and keep up with the latest history news. >> next on "american history tv," the autry museum and los angeles hosts a discussion in northrade is power america." explore the ways in which trade is good, like firearms between the newly arrived peoples and native americans, and the storied influence on american history. this program is about one hour 15 minutes. >> one note of introduction. since we are here at a museum, which is a slightly different venue than a library or university, i want to put in your mind couple of objects that you can see when you go to the gallery's today.