Evening star., 1942-10-02
Too Much Secrecy

States have given an impressive
demonstration of their adherence to
the voluntary code OF censorship
under which they are reporting the
war. AS far as known, none OF them
is guilty Of having violated this code
by printing the news of the Presi-
dents extraordinary trip across the
continent until the ban was officially
lifted yesterday at the White House.
The President very graciously COM
mended and thanked them yesterday
for their cooperation.
But 1t is doubtful II in any news
paper Office in the country today
there is any feeling OF pride in this
accomplishment. Censorship Is a
necessary evil in time Of war. In
this particular case there is justified
apprehension on the part of the
newspapers over how long the
voluntary code OF censorship can
remain effective if it is to be invoked
at will to suppress information which
even In wartime is the rightful prop
erty OF the American people.
For voluntary censorship depends
upon mutual confidence-confldence
by the press in the wisdom of the
censorship as exercised by the
authorities, and confidence by the
authorities in the desire OF the press
not to print information which is
hurtful to the interests of the coun-
try. If this confidence is under
mined the basis of voluntary censor
ship is apt to be destroyed. AS we
are at war, and censorship is neces-
sary, the only substitute for volun-
tary censorship is censorship by
statute, enforced by threat of
penalties instead of by mutual agree
ment. If that day comes it will be
a dismal day indeed for the press
and for the people.
The suppression of all news con-
corning the Presidents trip across
the continent was invoked under
that section of the code which for
bids publication of information
about the movements of the Presi-
dent OF the United States routes,
schedules, destination, within and
without continental United States"
The wisdom and the need for such
provisions are obvious and require no
defense whatever But it is difficult
indeed to defend the absolute ban
on any announcement or mention,
before or while it was in progress of
the Presidents two-week swing
across the country, during which he
rode through the streets of crowded
cities, took part in ceremonies, even
made brief speech and was seen
by many thousands OF citizens. It
is believed that the objective of the
codes provisions easily might have
been accomplished by withholding
details OF routes, schedules and
destination, but without arbitrarily
clamping down the lid on any men,
tion whatever of the things which
thousands OF citizens saw with their
own eyes.
The result Of such suppression
Is too apt to be growing suspicion
by the people that their Government
Is Withholding from them other types
OF information to which, as citizens,
they are entitled. If they see the
President, hear him speak know
from their neighbors that he has
been in the vicinity and yet meet a
blank wall of silence from their
newspapers, they naturally wonder
what other news is being kept from
them and that attitude begets a loss
OF confidence which the Government
should make every effort to main
tain.
In the opinion of The Star, the
principle here does not involve the
issue OF free press. It merely in
wolves what great many people be-
lleve to be mistaken and most un-
fortunate application of the code by
the authorities, repetition of which
will imperil the usefulness OF the
code and perhaps lead to something
far less satisfactory to the Govern
fnent to tho yoaop1o opd ~ %ho ~r..