VI. Propaganda Technique
152. PROPAGANDA DISCIPLINE. Basic to all psychological
warfare is the discipline of the operative. The participant, military or
civilian, who says what he himself wants to say should obviously be
thrown out of a propaganda outfit and transferred to some enterprise
where he can talk to his heart's content. The whole purpose of propaganda
rests upon saying things which the enemy wishes to hear but which, when
heard, will damage the enemy war effort. This requires the propagandist
to keep his own emotions and opinions under strict discipline. All the rest
of his government or army can hate the enemy all they wish; wartime is
the season for lawful hatred; there is no reason why they should not hate
the enemy. The propagandist has the job of persuading the enemy not to
fight. To do so, he must remain sympathetic to the enemy. Jeering, name-
calling, reproaching, criticizing without purpose--these should never de-
pend on what the propagandist thinks the enemy deserves to have said to
him, but on what the propagandist thinks will affect the enemy's thinking,
feeling, and action. The propagandist can denounce the enemy--when the
propaganda plan calls for it. He can express his hatred and contempt--if
hatred or contempt are on the schedule. Normally these are not. Most of
the time, he must play the role of being the sympathetic enemy. Propaganda
discipline (first of the individual over himself, then of the outfit over the
individual, whether civilian or military) is the first pre-condition of
successful psychological warfare. Violation of discipline produces dangerous
adverse reactions.
¶53. SCIENTIFIC AIDS. Basic historical, economic, political,
social, religious and other data concerning the audience should either be
inside the propagandist's head, or else in convenient reference form.
(Americans would not think much of enemies who addressed Louisiana
troops with, "Hello, Yankee!" under the impression they conveyed a sense
of cheerful friendliness, nor would they be impressed by a pamphlet which
showed Mother polishing her son's shoes while he lolled in a porch swing,
saying, "Gee whiz, I'm glad to be home, mama!" Bad propaganda is worse
than no propaganda; good propaganda requires correct background.) Know-
ing the language does not of itself indicate that the propagandist is ready to
start; even being a native or ex-citizen of the country concerned is not a
guarantee that the person is qualified. Most Americans speak good American
English; most of them know a lot about America; not many of them are
capable of becoming first-class radio commentators or great authors.
Sound psychological warfare operations depend not only on good language
facilities, and on the possession of cadres of personnel with a first-hand
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