New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-28
Bureau of Information
Gives Out Guide for
Newspapers
Wants Differences of
Allies Kept Secret
Also Specifies Military In
formation That Might
Aid Enemy
From The Tribuns Bureau

From The Tribuns Bureau
Washington, May 27.-A long list of
rules classifying the kinds of news
which shall be "verboten' to news
papers during the war has been issued
by the new Bureau of information"
as 1t calls itself, or the Bureau of
Censorship" as it is more popularity
called. The bureau authorized publi-
cation of the rules for tomorrow
morning.
Strenuous efforts have been made by
George Creel, head of the bureau, to
have the Washington correspondents
adopt these rules voluntarily. At the
first meeting, at which he asked this,
he gave the correspondents to under
stand that with the adoption of these
rules no censorship law would be need
cd. The correspondents took them un-
der advisement, but within two days
and before the next meeting at which
their approval should be considered the
President wrote to Chairman Webb Of
the House Judiciary Committee, insist
ing that there must be q censorship
law.
At the next meeting of the corre-
spondents, therefore, action on the
rules was not taken, it being decided, in
general way, to await the result OF
the censorship fight. A resolution was
adopted pointing out that the news
papers had been suppressing news
which they thought might be of value
to the enemy, and citing a partial list
of the "stories" which had been sup
pressed for patriotic motives. though
they would have made interesting read
ing.
- Object to Explanations
The rules as drafted found little OBJ
lection among correspondents here, al
though there are strong objections to
some of the explanations Of them
issued by the State Department in par
ticular.
One paragraph of the explanation"
reads:
Speculation about possible peace is
another topic whicn may possess ele-
ments of danger, as peace reports may
be of enemy origin, put out to weaken
the combination against Germany"
Another paragraph of the "explana-
tion," which would bar all discussion
Of the embargo paragraph Of the es-
pionage bill, which gives the President
the right to cut off exports to neu-
trail country in the event that country
is furnishing any needed supplies to
Germany, reads:
"The Department of State considers
il dangerous and of service to the
enemy to discuss differences of opinion
between the Allies and difficulties with
neutral countries"
Had that paragraph bound the Brit
ish censorship, it is pointed out, the
British press could not have told, prior
70 the entry of the United States into
the war. of the American protest
against the detention OF American
ships. the blacklist, the seizure OF
mails, or OtucI poiHIo VI u'"S ~
tween England and the United States.
Dangerous Matter"
Under the heading Dangerous Mat
ter" appear the following rules:
"In order to prevent the use OF our
press by the enemy, it is necessary to
avoid the publication Of news items or
articles which will interfere with our
plans of campaign or render more easy
the work of hostile spies. The sup
preston of all news matter whicn IS
obviously likely to be OF direct utllity
to the enemy is urged and expected.
Such matter is indicated specihcaiiy
as follows:
A-GENERAL
I News regarding naval and military
operations In progress. except that OIL
ficially given out.
of travelling official missions IN transit
throngb the United States. II is the duty
of hospitality TO surround distinguished
foreigners with every protection. 90,
8. Threats or plots against aga tne n,e ne, o,
snnounced from authoritative sources.
New. relating TO the activity OF the
s.cr.t police. Their work u protecting
,hs country from the enemys agents IN
our midst is Handicapped oy puoheHy.
Rules for Naval News
B-NAVAL
News relating to the naval operations
rs follows: ...,,. ~
/. The locality. number or identity OF
,,srsb;ns belonging 10 our own navy or 70
,h. nsvies of any country at war with
Secret notices issued to mariners or
so1 ingtruCtfOQs
the navy or the Department OF Commerce
relating to lights, lishtships. buoys or
other guides to navigation. A.. 4.
All information concerning the de-
nature Of merchant ships from our ports.
4 All information indicating the port OF
.rr;yal of incoming ships. or after tneir
arr;vai indicating or limiting At the port at
which the ship arrived
Details as TO conveys and as 70 the
sighting OF friendly, or enemy ships'
whether naval or merchant
fnformation concerning the laying OF
r,;n., or mine fields by our own author.