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Newly-named director of a $100,000 research program to study the Soviet Union, the sum contributed by the Carnegie Corporation of New York Thursday, professor of Anthropology Clyde M. Kluckhohn yesterday spoofed reports that his position made him a key government investigator.
Although pointing out that the new Russian center would not duplicate the work of the present regional studies program headed by Donald C. McKay, professor of History, Kluckhohn said that it would be "like any other program at Harvard."
"It is true," agreed the Anthropologist who chaired the Office of War Information's Japanese morale survey from 1944 until the end of the war, "there are a lot of informal contacts between professors here and government agencies."
But he hastened to add that the same contacts exist in the business and labor world, and would in no way make the University project 'a feeder for the State Department."
Work Not Confidential
Neither is he heading up "a propaganda organization," Kluckhohn maintained. Reports yesterday indicate that Kluckhohn had been asked to do "classified" (less than top secret, but still restricted) work, but had declined to limit himself to this.
Field work is Russia itself is not regarded by Kluckhohn as an immediate possibility. "Our work starts in the library," he said. He added that nothing in the nature of a propaganda organization was contemplated.
Compile Facts
"Just like any organization of a similar type in the University, we will compile our facts and publish them. If the State Department wishes to use them, they are welcome to the results of our efforts."
Thursday night Provost Buck designated Talcott Parsons, professor of Sociology, and Dean Edward S. Mason, to serve with Kluckhohn and McKay as a directive committee for the center.
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