New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-20
INO RUSSIAN CENSORSHIP.
Gorernment Raises Restriction on
Al Foreign Ne1cs.

c. Petersburg. Feb 19-The Russian govern
mont to-day abolished the censorship on all tele
grams going abroad. including news messages
IT, 1Ifting of the embargo. which has existed
for generations on the free TRANSMISSION OF
news from the Russian Empire came as a direct
raspIt Of consideration Of the subject oy the
| Car himself. and in some respects this ADOLF
| ton Is regarded here as the most important 4c'
since the emancipation of the serfs
Trndar q regime allowing perfect freedom to
the foreign press 1t Is believed that Russia will
soon cease to be constantly subject to under
ground attack, and that she viii see herself
| through honest spectacles. prominent Official
said to-day:
For years our country has been the victim OF
every imaginable Islander and mlsrepreseiit
because Il was known that teIeSrdnS auuI
| 10 foreign news sources went through the hands
of the Russian censor. Any story no hldtlei
how baseless or exaggerated that "ds sS;i. SUI
rantftfously across the border was SreedlIy &C
cepted abroad, especially by the Russopnopes' as
true because the government WouId hoI put us
official stamp upon IL. -, -
in operation in Berlin. Vienna ana eiseWhere'
and these have spread the most ABSURD ana pre-
posterous libeIs supplied by the enemies OF rus
sia Every act OF the government has oeen
twisted and distorted. insignificant STUDENT al
fairs or workmen's riots, such as would not at
tract general attention elsewhere, have been
rnagnified into great movements of popular dis
content until certain portions Of the world have
been led to DeleNe InaL Russia Ne-o PNihONNeAAJ
on the eve of a great revolution.
Some English newspapers especially have con-
Quoted systematic campaigns against US. more
over, the fact that dispatches were ceHsoieu 'ds
often been interpreted senui-o1cial authorlza-
ton when, perhaps. they in no sense represented
the views OF the EOvernmnt.
Hereafter the correspondents OF foreign news
papers will he untrammelled We expect to see
Russia presented in her true light. The opening
OF the floOdgates may result In the evilly dis
posed stirring UP as much mud as possible at
first but we feel confident that In the end truth
will prevail We are not afraid to have the
light turned on. We are proud OF our country
and we are entitled to faithful and honest pres
entation of our current history.
Foreign kilograms. until recently were subject
10 censorship Mt the Ministry OF Foreign Affairs.
but since the death last fall Of NJ Crotch. who
was at one time connected with the Russian
Embassy at Washington. the censorship has
been temporarily under the Ministry OF the In
terror, where the permanent censor bureau Of
plays books and newspapers in Russia Is To-
Gated
News kilograms addressed to foreign sources
originating in the most distant parts Of the en-
pire. vladivostok. for example. or odessa, were
formrly telegraphed to St Petersburg. to be
passed on. NJ Pehve. Minister Of the Interior
and Count Lamsdorff. the Foreign Minister
both joined IN the recommendation that the CEN
sOrship be abolished.
The int ernaI censorship is to be retained but
foreign dispatches are to be entirely free. In
asmuch as a state Of war exists, kilograms from
the theatre OF hostilties Will be subject 10 the
same kind OF military censorship enforced in all
countries under similar circumstances
The censorship at st. Petersburg was not only 81
tho rigid character IN its restrictions out
going news dispatches. but was particularly cum
bersome In It's machinery, causing great delay IN
forwarding dispatches even after they had passed
the censor's hands The ONCE Of this official
a mile or more from the telegraph Offices. and no
was accessible only NJ certain 2ot5ts m we GAY Gay.
his approval. serious delay often resulted In the
forwarding OF matter OF even an unobjcctlonablc
character.