UN Origins Project Series, Part 2: The Importance of Information
in Wartime “The United Nations Information Organization (UNIO)
was the first international agency of the Allied powers
participating in World War II and was also the first
Organization to incorporate in its title the 'United Nations'
name." It was constituted in September 1940, nearly two years
before the Declaration by United Nations, as the Inter-Allied
Information Committee, a clearinghouse for disseminating
information and propaganda about the war effort. Indeed, from a
very early stage, the Allied powers realized the role
information would play in their fight against the Axis. The
importance of information to the successful prosecution of the
war is encapsulated in an early inter-organization memorandum
entitled, “A Suggested Information Technique for the United
Nations.” Indeed, the memorandum is a succinct statement of
intent and purpose for the newly formed UNIO. The memorandum
highlights several key aspects in which the successful disse