Evening star., 1935-10-14
]. S. MAY CENSOR
RADIO WAR NEWS
Move Made to Amend Com.
,munications Act to Bar
Foreign PropagandistS.
BY JOHN ]. DAILY.

gapdists of all foreign nations at war.
To do this means the amendment OF
the communications act of 1884,
placing in the hands Of Secretary OF
State Hull a weapon that will curb
"any radio address or radio program
broadcast in this country by or for
or in the interest of any foreign gov
ernment"
Away back in July. Representative
Ray McKeough, Democrat, of Illinois
had a premonition that war would
break in Europe about this time. So
he conferred with Senator David I.
Walsh, Democrat, of Massachusetts,.
They drew up similar bills and intro
duced them in the Senate and House,
bills that are so drastic radio stations
would lose their licenses if propaganda
lists were permitted to flourish.
When England began sanctions"
against Italy, on Thursday by forbid
ding Baron Pompeo Oloisi, head OF
the Italian delegation at the League
of Nations, from talking to American
citizens via the radio, the English
government did just what the Amerl-
can Government is now contem-
plating.
Explains Bill.
AS Representative McKeough, in a
Statement to The Star, phrases it:
MY bill has for its purpose the pro-
lection of the citizens of the United
States against the influence and effect
ganda that might be spread by selfish
and sinister interests. 1t Is based
upon the we'll established American
doctrine of no entangling alliances
and seeks to keep clear all lines Of
contact through which our Nation
may be drawn into the problems, do
mestic or international, of other gov
ernments. 1t contemplates the polio
ing, through the Secretary of State,
of the use of radio facilities by any
foreign power, or agent of foreign
power, or any foreign interest"
Representative McKeough, from the
second district of Illinois, one of the
thickly populated spots on the south
side of Chicago, cut short a vacation
in New Mexico to rush here in the
interest of his bill AS the first Demo-
crat who ever represented his district
since the Civil War, McKeough is
determined to make his influence felt
on this one rrleasure-a drastic step
never before contemplated.
Claims U. S. Drawn Into War.
It feel" he said, before leaving for
Chicago yesterday, that America was
drawn into the late World War by
the astute propagandists of Europe
My measure has for its warrant many
poignant examples of publicity en-
ployed at that time, when our citizens
were subjected to the assaults and
ravages of false and destructive
propaganda. This sort of stuff is
injurious to the interests of the
United States.
Years ago no law existed to cor
rect or prevent abuses in the dissemi-
nation of Intelligence by dangerous
forces bent on arousing the feelings of
our people and directed to the en-
broilment of the United States in
war.
I'VE got in that war. We've got
to keep out of this one.
The present Ethiopian-I Italian sit
uation is dangerous. It may develop
into proportions seriously effecting
the peace Of America.
1T is therefore timely that the
amendment to the communications
act, introduced into the Senate by
Senator Walsh, and in the House by
me, be made a part of the national
radio law-and this just as soon as we
can get it enacted"
Will Launch Campaign.
In Chicago Representative NC
Keough this week will start a cam
paign to get national organizations
back of his bill, "to protect America
against inspired propaganda on war
and Communistic doctrines"
There is section of the communi-
cations act which places radio in the
hands of the United States Govern
ment Immediately war is declared by
this country-but the move now
started by Representative McKeough
and Senator Walsh is the first broach
of an idea taking radio away from the
commercial interests before war is
actually declared. 1t calls for the SUBJ
mission to the Secretary of State of
any radio address containing any for
eign political propaganda. Before
such an address can be delivered it
must have the written sanction of the
Secretary-and this permission must
be filed together with the station
license at the State Department. If
any one should go on the air and
make speech containing such propa-
ganda without permission, the pro-
posed law calls for the revocation of
the stations license.
Backed by Borah.
Senator William z. Borah, Repub-
Gcan, of Idaho, Is known to be heart
and soul behind the Walsh-McKeough
bill now in committee. In a recent
radio broadcast from his home in
Boise, Idaho, Senator Borah warned
against the active propagandists who
are now operating in this country,
trying to win favor with the American
people for European causes.
Behind the scenes, McKeough in
tends to enlist the support of enough
Senators and Representatives to have
the proposed law put on the statute
books as soon as Congress meets in
January. He believes he has the
assurance of the Interstate and For
eign Commerce Committee members
that the measure will be favorably
reported out. All then required is
action by the two houses-and this,
McKeough says, he can get.
"It means America free from per-
nicious propaganda" McKeough said.
CHILD'S COUGH REMOVES