421 



In particular. Hill and Knovlton r«coaBend«d that th« 

 tobacco Banufacturers taJca ■ joint action" by establishing a 

 ■Tobacco Research Comaittee" headquartered in New York City (p. 

 3). 



Hill and Knovlton recoaaended that: 



"The first public statenent of the Comaittee should b« 

 designed to clarify the problem and to reassure the public 

 that: (a) the industry's first and foreaost interest is 

 the public health; (b) there is no proof of the claias 

 which link smoking and lung cancer; and (c) the industry 

 is inaugurating a joint plan to deal with the situation.* 



(p. 4) 



This statement should be "placed as an advertisement in 

 leading newspapers" (p. 4). 



January 4. 1954 . The CEOs followed the advice of Hill and 

 Knowlton on January 4, 1954, running a full-page advertisement 

 in newspapers across the country. This advertisement is 

 attached as exhibit 4. 



The advertisement is called "A Frank Statement to 

 Cigarette Smokers." It announces the formation of the Tobacco 

 Industry Research Committee to provide "aid and assistance to 

 the research effort into all phases of tobacco use and health." 



In the advertisement, the tobacco companies assert: 



"We accept an interest in peop le's health as a basic 

 responsibility, paramount to every other consideration in 

 our business . ... We always have and alwavs will cooperate 

 closely with those whose task i t is to safeguard the 

 public health ." 



January 15. 1»54 . Hill and Knowlton vrrites a "Progress Report" 

 of activities. This progress report is attached as exhibit 5. 



The progress report states that the "Frank Statement" 

 appeared in 448 newspapers, reaching a circulation of 

 43,245,000 in 258 cities. The advertisement was run in 

 virtually all cities with a population above 50,000. The total 

 cost was $257,276. 



May 3. 1»54 . Hill and Knowlton reports to the Tobacco Industry 

 Research Committee on a booklet, "A Scientific Perspective on 

 the Cigarette Controversy." The report is attached as exhibit 

 6. 



According to the report, 205,000 copies of the booklet 

 were printed. The booklet was sent to 176,000 doctors. The 

 booklet and an accompanying press release were also sent to 

 15,000 editors and reporters. 



