FROM THE FILES OF THE FBI #42
[illegible form information]
UNITED STATES G[_______]NT
Memorandum
TO : Mr. A.H. Belmont
DATE: August 30, 1960
FROM : W.C. Sullivan
SUBJECT: REQUEST FROM DIRECTOR RE
"BRAINWASHING, A RUSSIAN TEXTBOOK ON PSYCHO-POLITICS"
(CENTRAL RESEARCH MATTER)
Reference is made to the Director's request "Do we know about
publication referred to in Cobina Wright's column?" Enclosed with
the Director's routing slip was Cobina Wright's column from the
_Los Angeles Herald & Express_ of August 24, 1960, in which the
publication "Brainwashing" was underscored. The publication was
described in the column as a Russian textbook on psycho-politics.
It is believed that Cobina Wright was referring to a 64-page
booklet entitled "BRAIN-WASHING, A synthesis of the Russian
Textbook on Phychopolitics [sic] edited by Charles Stickley, New
York City, 1955, and given a wide distribution since that time.
Issued by the "Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc.," Box
242, Silver Spring, Maryland. Various copies of the booklet have
been received by the Bureau from individuals from coast to coast
and even from Australia, together with inquiries concerning its
authenticity.
It appears that Cobina Wright took her quotation from pages 26
and 27 of the booklet on which appear the following paragraphs:
"By making readily available drugs of various kinds, by giving
the teen-ager alcohol, by praising his wildness, by stimulating him
with sex literature and advertising to him or her practices as
taught at the Sexpol, the psychopolitical operator can create the
necessary attitude of chaos, idleness and worthlessness into which
can then be cast the solution which will give the teen-ager
complete freedom everywhere--Communism.
"Should it be possible to continue conscription beyond any
reasonable time by promoting unpopular wars and other means the
draft can always stand as a further barrier
Enclosures (2)
CBP:des (8)
1 - Mr. M.A. Jones
1 - Mr. Mohr
1 - Mr. Belmont
1 - Mr. Parsons
1 - Mr. DeLoach
1 - Section tickler
1 - Mr. Sullivan
[page 2]
Memo to Mr. A. H. Belmont
Re: Request from Director re "Brainwashing,
A Russian Textbook on Psycho-Politics"
to the progress of youth in life, destroying any immediate hope
to participate in his nation's civic life.
"By these means the patriotism of youth for their Capitalistic
flag can be dulled to a point where they are no longer dangerous as
soldiers. While this might require many decades to effect,
Capitalism's short term view will never envision the length across
which we can plan.
"If we could effectively kill the national pride and patriotism
of just one generation we will have won that country.. Therefore
there must be continual propaganda abroad to undermine the loyalty
of the citizens in general and the teenager in particular."
In his "Editorial Note" at the beginning of the booklet,
Stickley does not attribute the material to having come from a
Russian textbook at all, but states, "This book is a synthesis of
information gathered through observation, discussion, investigation
and experience over the last ten years. I cannot entirely vouch for
its authenticity..." Bureau files contain no previous record of
Stickley.
The "Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation, Inc." is the
brainchild of L. Ron Hubbard, who is also connected with the
Hubbard Association of Scientologists International, and the
Academy of Scientology. His organizations allegedly advance a new
method of curing mental illness known as "dianetics." The April 24,
1951, issue of the _Times Herald_, Washington, D.C., revealed that
Hubbard's wife charged in a divorce suit that he was "hopelessly
insane" and had subjected her to "scientific torture experiments."
According to the article "competent medical advisors recommended
that Hubbard be committed to a private sanitarium for psychiatric
observation and treatment of his mental ailment known as paranoid
schizophrenia." The Bureau has received numerous inquiries
concerning the booklet described above, as well as concerning
Hubbard and his organizations.
RECOMMENDATION: For the information of the Director.
- 2 -
