Evening star., 1934-02-10
FREE PRESS HELD
PEACE ESSENTIAL
Censorship Inevitably Fol-
lowed by War, Ackerman
Tells Ohio Meeting.
Iy the Associated Press.

Iy the Associated Press.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, February TO-
Dean Carl w. Ackerman of the Co.
iumbia School OF Journalism declared
tonight that press censorship is in
evitably followed by war, and urged
American newspaper publishers to de-
nand free flow Of information
from foreign sources.
''The time has come for the Amer
tcan press to recommend and sup
port a new American policy in for
eign affairs" he told a meeting OF
the Ohio Newspaper Association. He
asserted there is a direct relationship
between the freedom of the press and
International amity.
Ternling the press the power plant
H democracy. Alderman reviewed
briefly the work Of American news
papers In national. State and city
Affairs and described censorship con-
dttionS in which the press operates in
certain foreign countries.
1.-THE chief nations threatening
world peace today are Germany,
Japan, France, Italy and Russia. In
each Of these countries the press is
controlled by government officials or
1ntlitarists who have the power to
declare war or force declaration Of
war
"The chief nations which want
peace today are the British Common
wealth. the FIVE small but free ma
tons Of Europe and the United
States.
Free Of Censorship.
in these countries the press Is
free from government control or CEN
sorship. These are facts. What do
they signify and what can We do If
y free people We want to keep out
OF another war or If we want world
peace TO be a reality, instead Of an
ideal beyond realization?
The answer may be found in the
continuity of service of the Amer
jcan press as it is revealed in the
Pulitzer Prize material"
He declared American journalism
has served the American people dur
ing the first II months of President
Roosevelts administration in four I'M
portant respects, to-Wit.
Il. 1t has established as an Amer
can political principle that in time
Of a national crisis no Government
Official has either the right or the
power to censor, control or license the
bress.
20. 1t has faithfully, accurately and
understandtngly reported governmental
action and policies. 1t has cooper
ated with President Roosevelt and his
administration in restoring confidence
and promoting recovery and with equal
fidelity 1t has reported and interpreted
counter criticism and opinion.
3. 1t has reported the truth about
developments in Germany as well as
pro-Hitler and anti-Nazi propaganda.
It has told the truth about the mill
tarists Of Japan and the liberals as
well. 1t has Sensed and revealed the
new liberalism IN Russia which emerg-
Cd when it was recognized by our
Government, and
4. In local affairs, conspicuously,
but by no means exclusively, in Chi
cAgo and New York, 1t has been q
decisive influence in cleaning NUM-
eipal governments and in exposing
and preventing graft in Federal relief
agencies.
Free Press Possibilities.
This perspective of American jour-
palism is important because it estab-
fishes the influence of a free press in
public affairs and indicates something
Of the possibilities Of a free press in
world affairs
Ackerman declared advocates of
peace In America as represented by
various societies, institutes and forums,
must readjust their perspective and
consider the press not as a printing
establishment to turn out clippings
for their publicity flies, but as a factor
tsef in international affairs quite
spart from what 1t reports
THE most important force in inter-
national affairs" he said. is the for
eign service of the American press as
soclattons and newspapers under the
leadership and direction of men who
are interested in and concerned with
the free flow Of information rather
than with any form of propaganda by,
Tor and OF governments, political sys-
TENS or peace societies.
American newspaper correspond
Is result of daily contact with re-
alities in every world capital that war
follows the control of news as in
eyttably as darkness follows light.
Nevertheless there Is not a peace
society or foundation In the United
States which has approached the study
OF peace from the standpoint of a
Tree and full flow of international
news. Like many casual newspaper
readers. they have been watching head
lines, photographs and features with
out comprehending that there is a
continuity of news which, if permitted
to flow without censorship, subsidy or
control, is more potent influence for
peace than arguments or armaments.
III there Is direct relationship be-
tween the freedom of information and
peace, are We Justified as newspaper
men and as citizens in accepting for
eign censorships or control of news
destined for the United States?
European Unwritten Law.
rs the rightful Interpretation Of
the freedom of the press to be applic-
able only to our local and national
unwritten law of European secret di-
plomacy that the press is menace
until 1t Is fettered?
Are We justified in permitting mil
itary-mad men in Germany, France.
Italy, Japan or Russia to set the stage
for another war. to prepare for an
other war, and when they are ready
to declare another war by the simple
process Of controlling information and
manufacturing opinion while they
build ornaments and accumulate
ammunitions?"
Ackerman stated that he received
recently report from the correspond
ents who covered the Seventh Pam
American Congress, at Montevideo,
under strict censorship and control
and asked:
How much longer are the news
papers of the United States going to
stand for this hypocrisy? Is it
right for the free press Of the United
States to have its international news
standards influenced or determined by