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International propaganda is the aspect of the cold war which has been most frequently attacked. It has taken the form, since the end of WWII, of an attempt by the major powers to demonstrate the merits of their respective institutions. After a pause during 1946-1947, this propaganda was resumed with increasing intensity. One of the first situations in which it was decisive was during the Italian elections of 1948. International propaganda has merely developed since that time. It is an official instrument of action of the nation in time of peace. This is not a new function. George Kennan has described the need for this weapon, & Walter Lippman has analyzed many of its aspects. The first systematic use of this technique can be traced to the `war of nerves' of Hitler. This propaganda has many variants & notably, we may cite `cultural influence' whose origins are very ancient. War propaganda plays an essential role & has its own peculiar characteristics, depending esp on a distortion of news. Abusive international propaganda was condemned at one of the first sessions of the UN. Tr by J. A. Broussard from IPSA.

The international research office for the study of social implications of technological change was established in Paris in 1953. One of its main functions is to act as a clearing house for this field of research. The office has undertaken the preparation of a general bibliography and various specialized bibliographies. The research office wishes to be a kind of cooperative for the many organizations and U. departments engaged in research in this field. It is attempting to assemble less widely available documentation, and be available as a practical research consultant to any private or official service bodies. It is highly desirable that specialists and organizations engaged in research on the social implications of technological change should submit regular information concerning their work directly to the research office. Specialists who are not yet on the research office's list of correspondents are requested to contact the Office. J. E. Hughes.

J. Meynaud's PRESSURE GROUP IN FRANCE & H. W. Ehrmann's INTEREST GROUPS ON FOUR CONTINENTS are evidence of the progress made in the study of pressure groups outside of the US. Yet they show that though we have arrived at a definition of such groups, the actual mechanism of pressure still generally escapes investigation. On the other hand, recent studies by historians have indicated that the actual influence of such groups has frequently been exaggerated: their activities are not always organized nor do they always achieve success. Despite the present multiplication of monographs, we are still a long way from being able to evaluate their influence in public affairs. The study of international pressure groups can only be sketched out; the documentation of the pol'al action of the large international corporations will undoubtedly have to await some future date, but it should be possible to study the international org's which are not attached to Gov: the understanding of the techniques by which pressure groups exercise their influence should allow for more adequate studies & a better understanding of international relations. Tr by J. A. Broussard from IPSA.