The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-03-14
President Discusses NeWs
Control With Reporters

Imagine the head OF n European
state sitting for half an hour while
he was questioned by group Of
newSmcn on any subject they chose,
including the governments conf
dental tranSaCtionsl
And. yet, that happens twice
week in Washington at the White
House press conferences. There the
President sits at his desk covered
with papers; members OF the White
House staff sitting about him, two
secret service men standing inCon-
spicuously behind him, between the
stars and stripes and the presidcn-
tial flag
To us in Washington, the White
House press conference is routine.
But recent meeting was so demo
cratic, 80 unlike anything that could
possibly happen abroad, that it
stands out clearly in my memory.
Mr.. Roosevelt started 1t. The cues
ton which the American public
ought to think about, as he put il,
had to do with the ethics, morals
and patriotism of making public,
matters which might be injurious to
national defense. First, should a
member OF congress divulge testi-
mony before a secret committee ses-
sion; second, should n newspaper
publish or radio station broadcast
such information.
The issue was raised by the publ
cation OF testimony given by the
chief Of staff, General Marshall, be-
fore an executive session OF the SEN
ate military affairs committee in
connection with n shipment Of army
bombers to Hawaii.
Censorship Not Desired.
The President said he had neither
the desire nor the power to censor
the news, but he wished us to con-
slider whether II was ethical, moral
or patriotic TO publish any informa-
ton which the heads Of the army
and navy believed should, in the in
terests OF national defense, be kept
confidential.
The newsmen did not question the
ACCESSIBILITY Of Withholding from the
public important military secrets,
but they showed plainly that they re-
scented any suggestion that the free
dom Of the press be interfered with.
One correspondent said frankly
that the chief of staff ought not TO
tell things to congressman which he
did not want to get out because such
information always leaked. The
President replied, quietly, that nat
urally, one did not like to withhold
any information asked for by con-
| gress.
Another reporter asked how the
press was to know what information.
once they had received it, ought TO
be withheld, and what could be
printed. The President answered
this could be determined by what the
heads OF the army and navy felt
would be injurious to national de-
Tense. The President admitted he
had no specific proposal TO suggest
No definite conclusion to the dis
cussion was reached atthe interview
The incident had one effect Short
~ after the meeting, a writer who
is usually eXcellently informed. stat
ed that the President had turned
down fatty a plan to place all in
formation concerning defense under
what amounted TO a censorship
board. 1t had been long known
that such plan was placed on the
Presidents desk at the time war
broke out abroad The President
turned 1t down then. When it came
up the second time, he again turned
1t down. Later, Lowell Mellett, ad-
ministrative advisor TO the Presi-
dent, said no plan Of censorship was
being considered
II war comes, some method Of
regulating the publication Of militia
~ Information will probably be put
into effect. But until that moment.
the press and radio will fight for
freedom Of speech, the spoken word