458 



CCWFILKlfTIAL 



TO: T. V. Hartnett, Chalraan 



Tobacco Induatry Feaearcb Ccnslttee 



FROM: Hill and Knovlton, Inc. 



SUBJ15CT: Report of Actlvltlea through July 31, 195^ 



SUMMARY OF ACTivrrns 



The functiona of public relatlona counael have been threefold: 

 (l) Over>all policy guidance and prograjsmlDg; (2) adBiniatration of Ccmlttee af- 

 fa Ire; and (3) public and presa relatione and contacte. Since theae functlone 

 frequently overlap, there can be no clear-cut delineation of actlvltlea into tbete 

 three categorlee. In the flret eectlon of thle report, "Sumaary and Background," 

 the historical approach la taken. In the second eectlon, "Other Public Relatione 

 Actlvltlea," a topical preeentatlon le ueed. 



SUMMARY AND BACKGROUtT> 



In mld'Decejtber, 1953> executlvee of leading tobacco coopanlee decided 

 •one kind of Joint action vas laperatlve In the face of vldely publicized attack* 

 alleging a link between cigarette emoklsg and lung cancer. Repreeentatlvea of Hill 

 and Knovlton, Inc., vere invited to aeet vitb these executive* for coneultatioo ca 

 vays and means of dealing with the problea. 



At thi* firat aeetlng, it vas agreed that the wisest course of actiee 

 vould be for the industry to find out, through objective research, what truth there 

 vas. If any, in the chargea being aade against it. Mr. Hill stated it vould be a 

 serious public relations mietake for the induatry to aake any sove that could ca::ee 

 it to be accused of dieregard of people 'a health and under no circusstancea could 

 the industry afford to engage In direct controverey vlth its detractors. With tie 

 acceptance of these principles. Hill and Knovlton, Inc. vas asked to reconoend a 

 prograa to ijBplement them. 



