Evening star., 1941-12-17
Cabinet Committee
Draws Master Plan
OF War Censorship
Program to Be Submitted
To Director Byron Price
On Arrival Here Friday

tliC ACCOMMODATIONS VI SCOltS VI
press relations experts, will be SUBJ
mitted to Byron Price, newly-ap-
pointed director of censorship, by a
special cabinet committee which has
been studying the project for sew
eral months.
Existence of this committee and
its recent intensive deliberations was
disclosed by White House Secretary
Stephen T. Early during a press
conference discussion of the censor
ship program today.
The group which has been whip
ping the program into tentative
shape for Mr.. Prices consideration
and application is headed by Post
master General Walker and includes
Attorney General Biddle and Vice
President Wallace, who is chairman
of the Economic Warfare Board.
Lowell Mellett, administrative as
sistant to the President, has been
participating in the committee de-
liberations in place of Mr.. Early,
who is officially member.
The White House secretary said
today that it had been planned
some time ago to begin consultations
with radio and newspaper eXecu-
tives, but that this step had been
deferred pending the appointment
of a censorship director. Mr. Price
will assume this post, probably on
Friday, without any advance COM
mitments or obligations to inter-
fere with his own conceptions of
the task.
Censorship at Source.
Emphasizing that the control of
domestic publication and dissemina-
ton of news is to be applied at the
source of information rather than
to copy prepared by radio and
newspaper writer's, Mr.. Early said
that a working interdepartmental
committee will be set up to de-
termine what material is to be re-
leased publicly. The effect of this
advance what material is to be
prepared in hand-out form for gen.
eral distribution.
Questioned about the status Of
exclusive information obtained by
individual neWspapermen, Mr.. Early
said he believed such individuals
should consult with and obtain
clearance from Mr.. Price before re-
leasing their dispatches.
Meanwhile, censorship of radio,
cables and foreign mails. as well as
press, was all but law. Congress was
looking for legislative shortcuts to
affirm these and other wartime pow
ers for President Roosevelt before
sundown,
Only minor difference between
bills passed yesterday by the House
and Senate remained to be ironed
out before the censorship. which
Mr.. Roosevelt acknowledged "all
Americans abhor," became a fact.
The Senate approved a compro-
mise version of the measure today
and only final House action now is
needed to send the bill to the White
House
Besides erecting a barrier against
filtration of military data to the
Axis, the new, broad grant Of power
to the Chief Executive would au-
thorize him to reallocate Federal
functions, grant contracts without
bidding, revise contracts and control
completely the financial transac-
tions of aliens.
Fought With A. E. F.
Mr.. Roosevelt at his press con-
ference yesterday outlined partly
voluntary, partly compulsory CEN
sorship over all media of communi-
cation, and announced Mr.. Prices
appointment as director OF censor
ship.
The 50-year- newspaperman,
who is on leave from the executive
news editorship of the Associated
Press, left his post in New York
Yesterday. He could not discuss his
plans, he said, until he was estab-
lished in Washington.
But the splendid attitude" already
shown by press and radio, Mr.. Price
added, should make my job a good
deal easier" Already news-gather-
ing organizations, newspapers, and
the radio have agreed voluntarily to
withhold news of troop and ship
movements.
Domestic Application.
Chairman Van Nuys of the Senate
Judiciary Committee said that only
censorship of outgoing foreign COM
munications was involved in the
war powers measure, but the Presl-
dent said the news control would
cover domestic publication OF some
information.
POSTMASTER General Walker re-
vealed yesterday that censorship
of both incoming and outgoing
foreign mails was already in
force. He withheld additional
information for the PRESENT.
Mr.. Roosevelt said that organiza-
ton of the Office of director OF
censorship would not be worked out
until Mr.. Price was on the job.
The news chief was starting his
3Oth year, to the day, with the
Associated Press when his leave was
announced. Besides experience in
France with the SD Pioneer Regl-
ment and a wide acquaintance with
newspaper owners and editors, the
Indiana-born newspaperman brings
TO the military cenSor's role his ex-
perience in covering two great naval
parleys-the Washington conference
of 1921 and the London conference
in 1880.
Covered League Debate.
Part of his % years in Washington
was spent in covering the Senate
debate which kept this country ou'
of the League of Nations. He accom-
panied Woodrow Wilson on thai
Presidents 1919 speaking tour II
behalf of the League.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate o.
Wabash College, Mr. Price worked
for the United Press in Omaha ane
Chicago for a brief period, Jolnlne
the Associated Press in Atlanta, Ga
He was transferred to New orleans
hack to Atlanta and then to Wash
ington. He was news editor OF th'
Washington Bureau from l922 x
,nor o,d l,,,roou chief until 1887,