Evening star., 1940-02-17

eaten OBVIOUS lndlScretlOnS S0cn as
discussion of military matters. I
have never heard of telephone con-
versation being broken into or
stopped.
Censorship Is Denied.
Here again the foreign corre-
spondent is called to account only
when dispatch published in his
home paper contains something
which German officialdom considers
violation Of the rules of the game
Indeed, the German government
goes so far as to claim that there
is no censorship" for foreign cor
respondents. That claim is obvious
ly too broad. The correspondent
who took this statement literally
would soon find himself in trouble.
1t does mean, however, that so long
as he avoids certain dangerous
topics, he is not delayed or
penalized.
The German government has
evolved an ingenious method of
expediting press stories sent by mail.
All such material can be turned in
to special section of the propa-
ganda ministry. with the under
standing that the manuscript will
be read and mailed within "A hours
unless something Objectionable is
discovered. Being mailed in a spe-,
cial envelope, it goes through with
out scrutiny by the regular censor.
In case of objection, the corre-
spondent is notified and changes or
eliminations are suggested. Here,
as elsewhere, objections are rarely
made except for military reasons
The correspondent has apparently
a wide latitude in describing and
discussing current conditions. Ger
man of6cialdom seems to have real
lied that it is no use trying to stop
foreign correspondents from writing
home about matters which are un-
deniable facts. Only when the cor
respondent has unearthed some
strongly unpalatable information will
he be told that such dispatch, even
though true, is displeasing to the
government, and that he had best
not persist in thus publicizing his
exceptional discoveries.
From all this it must not be in
ferred that the German government
isanimated by any idealistic motives.
Its policy is severely practical. The
shrewd brains which run the propa-
ganda ministry have decided that
it pays to treat foreign corre-
spondents well and make things easy
for them in every feasible way. Also,
the very fact that Berlin dispatches
often contain items unfavorable to
Germany impresses public opinion
abroad and thus indirectly aids the
government in its own foreign propa-
ganda. Toward its own people there
is no such liberal attitude.
Press Rigidly Controlled.
The German press is rigidly con-
trolled, and German newspapers
print very little straight news, a. we
understand the term. I had one
Illuminating instance of this when I
was invited by the head Of q German
press syndicate to contribute q short
statement OF my Impressions Of war
time Europe.
Having been assured that could
write what / chose, stated frankly
that we Americans thought another
long war would economically ruin
Europe, no matter which side was
victorious. The propaganda minis
try promptly vetoed publication and
I was politely but firmly told that
such statement, though quite
proper for my fellow countrymen,
was deemed unsuitable for German
readers.
Regarding travel, the foreign cor
respondent encounters the same
condition of circumscribed freedom.
Over most Of Germany you can
travel almost as freely Is you could
In peacetime-by train or CONNER
cial bus. of course, since gasoline
rationing makes private motor trips