The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-08-20

WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 20. 1871



the American Press was taken
when correspondents agreed TO I'M
pose a voluntary censorship, with
holding such news as military Of
hcials might consider secrets OF
war. Now comes an additional
step This time it is in form OF
legislation imposing penalties for
violation and placing restrictions
entirely in the hands OF govern
ment officials.
In time of war such censorship
may be considered essential, but as
a matter OF fact the enemy has
most information OF value about as
soon a. the press would get 1t
and publication merely means that
all the people have il about the
same time.
The main valve OF censorship
then seems to be curtailment OF
criticism and annoyance from those
who disagree with the men giving
the orders. And that may be rea-
son enough, provided the censor
ship is not carried too far.
Directors of war must have a
free hand. No man can always be
right, but unhampered a capable
and honest executive can do a bet
ter lob than when annoyed by
questions and criticism. This is
assuming. of course that all work
carried on behind the screens OF
censorship is in the hands OF cap
able and honest men. AZ
Degree OF censorship is another
consideration. That rests with in
dividuals in control. What one
officer may consider proper for
press release another may censor,
The same is true among nations.
An excellent example was the way
news releases were handled Rhsn
President Roosevelt and Winston
Churchill met recently for a mid
sea conference.
When Mr.. Roosevelt was about to
set sail northward TO go-as the
White House called Fishing,
Navy Secretary Knox summoned a
special conference OF the Washing
ton Press Corps and asked that the
voluntary censorship in which
newspapers had periodically joined.
be extended to the Presidents
fishing trip. He assured press
correspondents that the President
was going on a purely rest vaca-
ton.
The British, even though at war
handled their side OF the trip quite
differently. Mr.. Churchill slipped
of without any adequate official
explanation. and before he had
been gone "a hours, it was limited
70 news-men that the Prime Minis
ter might meet Mr.. Roosevelt on
the high seas. Not only that, but
the British government censors
passed on 10 the outer world in.
GLIDING the United States. reports
and speculations about such a
meeting.
The deception was pursued here
No official word was permitted TO
be. quoted. Officials OF the State
Department and Navy privately ex.
pressed doubts about the truth Of
the British reports. Reporters
who knew the situation were IN
able to print IL
The Navy insisted Admiral
stark, who vas supposed to be 81
the conference, vas on leave
even though naval officers rarely
perform Official business ION leave"
The Army said Chief OF STAFF
General Marshall. and Chief of the
Air Corps General Arnold we're on
inspection Copy cying the mean
ing that they were touring IN,
country
The American press can lool
upon this as a shabby deal, II no
a double-crossing. in great even
OF American history. but on tn,
other hand most readers will re
call complaints Of American cor
respondents trying to get new
out Of England during The earll
months Of the war when the Brit
ish censorship was being organic
ed stupid was the term fire
quently applied and from our view
point stupid was quite correc,
In the case of the meeting betwee
our President and Britain's prim
minister there was an urging mc
tive for free speech. British o
1cials wanted the world TO kno'
OF the conference as soon as 10
sible II was biz news in the
favor They talked. therefore. a
soon as they felt it would be SAT-
So goes censorship. What IN
officials in power want printed the
release. What they want suppres
cd they suppress. The reason
generally official war secrets.
fact the reason may be person;
preference. but once the censo
ship law is in effect there will b
no room for argument The Wor
OF the censor is Law. The read;
will read what the censor wish,
printed for him and the newspsp
man who violates the censors rul,
faces severe punishment.
We are not criticizing the pri
ciple OF censorship In time Of wa
II seems TO be the common tren
We merely wish to emphasize q
variety OF opinion as to what shou
be censored and TO say to our rea
ers that censorship will probsb
withhold many facts Readers W
read what papers are permitted
print and they must deduct fro
what they read the events OF "
from day TO day which will be wit
held. but which would help 10 {
plain what they are told is hs
pening.