Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-10

Modern journalism has been given
much public consideration as result
| of the International Press Conference
at Geneva and its demands for free
access to official news. Coupled with
discussion of the conference and its
activities are many comments on criti-
cisIn of newspaper methods and ethics
by Lord Hewart, Lord Chief Justice of
England, who attended the annual
meeting of the American Bar Associa-
ton.
The stand Of press conference
against censorship in time of peace
is viewed by the Baltimore Evening
Sun with approval mixed with a bit
of skepticism. Censorship means
only annoyance and trouble for news
papers," says that paper. "It gets
them into trouble with government
officials. It also gets them into trouble
with their readers by preventing them
from giving the readers what they
wish and pay for-namely, the news.
But censorship is so convenient for
politicians that it is highly unlikely
they will surrender it merely because
the International Press Conference de-
mands its surrender. The power OF
the press does not rise to any such
height as that"
"Mussolini in Italy, Rivera in Spain,
Stain in Russia, Gales in Mexico"
declares the Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
keep UP censorships and expel cor
respondents who send out the truth.
They are the worst offenders, but by
no means the only offenders. And the
offense is a grave one against modern
civilization. Miasmas yield to sun
light. Honest governments have
nothing to hide. That is almost an
axiom"
The Charlotte Observer recognizes
that "the independent press associa-
tions of the world-the organizations
which distribute the news of the
world to the newspapers in all coun-
tries-are determined that informa.
ton coming from abroad shall not be
worded to suit selfish foreign rulers.
They do not care whether 1t is favor
able or unfavorable; what they are
after is the truth, and the whole truth.
What American readers want are the
facts, so that they may draw their
own conclusions"
mot only should the newspaper
press be free" insists the Pasadena
Star.News, "but all newspapers and
all press associations should have &C
cess, on terms of equality, to all gov
in this country and in other countries.
This is but justice to the millions who
regularly read newspapers" The
Chicago Tribune adds that 'interrela-
tons Of finance alone call for free
exchange of information and a mu-
tual confidence between the creditor
and debtor nations, which is incom-
patible with the suppression OF news"
1.-THE important role which foreign
governments play in controlling the
dissemination of news" in the opinion
Of the Indianapolis Star, constitutes
one Of the chief obstacles to the at
tainment by the European press Of a
freedom which has always been guar
anteed to American journalism" De-
claring that 1.-The forum of the Fourth
Estate is worldwide" the New York
Evening Post adds that ION it more
than any other single thing depends
good understanding among nations"
and that nothing will do more to
break down the barriers OF national
exclusiveness than the free exchange
of news"
On the question of property rights
in news, the New York World points
out that 1.-The resolution as finally
passed simply declared that in view of
widely different conditions obtaining |
in different countries the question |
of a law should be left to the govern" |
ments concerned, but that they were |
asked to consider the matter sympa- /
thetically. This is the first STEP"
continues the World. "It should lead |
in time to full international protec- |
ton Of property rights in news, with |
q resultant gain in enterprise and ac-
curacy." The Schenectady Gazette !