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495 



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ATTACaaC #1 

 CONFIDENTIAL . j^ 



PUEIIC RELATIONS REPOST 



to the 



TOBACCO EOUSTRY RESEARCH CO"WITTEE 



rtbruary l**, 1956 



Oi^eral Introduction 



The period tciiedlately aieed vlLl produce a considerable nuiber of scien- 

 tific papers, medical meetings e::d public statements both generally and specif- 

 ically concerned with the 8ubje:t of saoklng and health. Additional reports, 

 ceetlngs, bocks and articles v-11 focua etlll r.ore attention on this subject in 

 the next four nonths • 



With respect to this increased activity, hovever, two points should be 

 recognized; 



1. A large proportion of the attacks against smoking made recently, and 

 expected to continue in the next few montha, originate with the same small group 

 of critics vho have led the acti-tobacco moves of the past tvo or three years. 



2. Neither the press nor the public seeas to be reacting with any notice- 

 able fear or alarm to the recent attacks. 



This outlook does not vej-rant any attitude of complacency In our putllc 

 relations approach, especially vhen ve consider what could be the impact on the 

 public of a possible announceaeat (which has been r\nored) by researchers al- 

 leging that they have Isolated and identified a carcinogen In tobacco. Also, 

 it is not possible at this tine to assess fully the probable Impact of federal 

 government reports and activities that are Indicated In the months ahead. 



With a nucber of grantees at or near the stage of public reportini; on 

 their research to d^te, the cciduct of the Tobacco Industry Research Cociittee 

 will be closely scrutinized bv the scientific world, as well as the press , as 

 to the stand and attitude ass.=ed toward those reports . Protection of tr.e in- 

 tegrity of the indust r y's position in this regard is vitall y necessary, and con- 

 clusive reaffi raiation tr^t trje freedom of thought and acti OH hfls been given 

 TIRC grantees can be rewarding. 



Our public relations efforts will continue to be directed toward: (a) 

 keeping the press well inforcei of the balancing aspects of the situation as 

 new attacks arise, and (b) increasing the prestige of TLRC's own efforts by 

 showing that TIRC Is helping ta gain the needed facts through adequately fi- 

 nanced and carefully planned scientific research. 



The research program of the Scientific Advisory Board has now progressed 

 to a point warranting fuller description of its acconplishments and alms within 

 the fields of science and rceiicine. With the val-jable guidance and assistance 



