The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-18
ZEE FOREIGN SERVICE or THE
ASSOCIATED PRESS.


-
n American business resident Of the
oar East feel that congratulations are
ene tbs SuN for It's work In the suit
against the Associated Press as men,
tened in your leading article in THE
UuN Of February II. under the title
The Freedom Of the Press and Unlaw-
eh Monopoly"
We Americans who tive in the Far
CAst have for years realized the ele-
msnt Of danger TO the United States
which exists In this ironclad foreign
hews gathering organization.
We saw rhis danger demonstrated in
khc case Of the Corean conspiracy trial
This celebrated case the Associated
Press failed to report until heavy pres
sure was brought upon II by the Kobe
CAro~tcie and other independent agen-
Cies. Under this pressure the news that
the Associated Press finally sent for
ward Of this famous trial was purposely
insignificant and Intentionally apollo
gstic both Of its own organization and Of
the Oriental Government concerned In
The matter.
When II Is borne In mind that this
Corean conspiracy case developed into
IN appearance Of deliberately planned
movement Of the Japanese Government
against the widely spreading Christian
propaganda in Corea. and when 1t "
further recalled that this Christian
propaganda is largely an unofficial
United States influence and that It has
naturally become . powerful influence
against despotism. the activity Of the
Japanese Government in It's wholesale
arrests Of Christians begins to show
sinister reasonableness and the strange
silence Of the Associated Press in the
case begins to assume the ugly appear
Hnce of inspired treasonableness.
Perhaps the kernel Of the greatest
cnquity toward American readers in the
Associated Press organization Is that it
works In too complete harmony with
ehe United States diplomatic service.
That there should be some harmony
between the two is doubtless desirable
6ut that It should extend to complete
union is Ubiquitous. II Is not much OF
Press representatives in foreign coun-
tT1eo live in our embassies and mis-
sions. They will publish nothing ex-
cept In harmony With these diplomatic
Offices. The fact. for instance, was not
published that the Secretary of States
hurried visit to Sacramento was con-
strued by the press abroad as fear" Of
japan by the United States Of America
. stampede Of the Government Of the
DATED States and that such stampede
10 not in the long run In the interests
OF peace. The Associated Press made
no mention OF these foreign press COM
uents.
This entire harmony between the AS
tociated Press ana the diplomatic ser
vice. this failure to print anything that
might be construed. even remotely, as a
criticism Of that service. has resulted in
minimizing our knowledge Of an impor-
tant arm Of our Government. Tho De-
partment OF State and It's branches have
thus become immune from wholesome
inspection. The service has therefore
lost its usefulness. II Is In fact no
longer United States service. AL
though maintained to protect Americans
and American interests abroad it has In
reality become n service inspired by the
one great desire to keep out OF trouble,
that Is, as 1t works out, promptly to de-
sert Americans and american interests
whenever ana wherever there arises
the faintest sign OF trouble.
This constant retreat Of our diplo-
matte service from trouble or the ap-
pearancc of irpuble does not insure the
preservation Of pence. 70 cut and run
IL neither digniiied nor wise. 1t Is in
fact an encouragement OF international
misunderstanding. A hidebound peace
apostle IN "a diplomatic service illogi
cally becomes the host Of foreign com
plicat!ons and lays the train that brings
national humiliatious or endansering
ultimatums nearer. Every one must
O'N' NJ" ''' 't' Consequences vi lHlS
in the repeated hingng OF some protest
or other at the United States by Il
foreign Power.
mis- is position Of danger. This Is
the reason that our diplomatic service
has become a reasonable menace. In
this position 1t ls upheld by the Asso.
cisted Press organization, just az oul
diplomatic organization upholds tn.
press organ z,,tlon
l have therefore felt II duty I,
.ceugratulate YOU upon your efforts, ef