Evening star., 1942-01-15
Code Of Censorship
For Newspapers and
Magazines Issued
Price Announces
SorreII's Appointment
To Enforce Rules
n the Associated Press.

~ blle AcoOSihtct . heos'
Byron Price, director Of censor
ship, announced yesterday . code OF
wartime practices for withholding
from publication certain classes OF
information which might be Of aid
to the enemy"
The code was designed particu-
larly for newspapers and magazines,
but applies generally to published
matter, such as advertising, letters
to the editor, columns and inter-
views with service men.
At the same time, Mr.. Price an
nounced that j. H. Sorrells. assist
ant director of censorship who Is on
leave as executive editor Of the
Scripps-Howard newspapers, would
be In direct charge Of administering
the code. He will be assisted by q
small board Of editors and an ad-
visory council of the publishing in
dustry, which will be appointed
soon.
Can Quote Record.
Newspapers hardly could be asked
to withhold publication of anything
that appeared in the Congressional
Record, regardless of its propriety,
Mr.. Price said in response to ques-
tions at a press conference today.
Closed committee meetings OF
Congress present another problem,
he indicated, and whether informa-
tion that may leak out Of such
meetings should be printed would
depend on the authority for them
and their nature.
Mr.. Price made 1t clear that the
Censorship Bureau Is not trying to
control Government publicity. One
Of his purposes, he said. will be to
see that Government departments
give out as complete information as
may be compatible with the national
safety and that newspapers not be
left holding the bag" between one
department and another.
Text Of Code.
The text Of the censorship code
follows:
This statement responds to the
many inquiries received by the
once Of Censorship. asking for an
outline Of newspaper and magazine
practices which the Government
feels desirable for the enectlVe
prosecution of the war.
"It is essential that certain basic
facts be understood from the BE-
ginning.
THE first of these facts is that
the outcome OF the war Is a matter
of vital personal concern to the fu-
ture of every American citizen. Ihe
second is that the security Of our
armed forces and even Of our homes
and our liberties will be weakened
In greater or less degree by every
disclosure of information which will
help the enemy.
IF every member of every news
staff and contributing writer Will
keep these two facts constantly IN
mind and then will follow the die
tates of common sense, he will be
able to answer for himself many
of the questions which might other
wise trouble him. In other words, q
maximum OF accomplishment will be
attained if editors will ask them
selves with respect to any given de-
tail, Is this information would like
10 have II I were the enemy?' and
then act accordingly.
VIII Mean Sacrifice.
THE result Of such q process will
hardly represent business as usual
on the news desks Of the country.
On the contrary, it will mean some
sacrifice of the Journalistic enter
prise of ordinary times. But 1t will
not mean a news or editorial black
out. 1t is the hope and expectation
of the ONCE Of Censorship that the
columns OF American publications
will remain the freeSt in the world
and will tell the story of our ma
tional successes and shortcomings
accurately and in much detail
The highly gratifying response
OF the press so far proves that 1t
understands the need for tempo
rary sacrifice, and is prepared to
make that sacrifice in the spirit of
the Presidents recent assurance
that such curtailment as may be
necessary will be administered ''tn
harmony with the best interests OF
our free institutions
Below is summary covering Spe-
cif1c problems. This summary re-
peats, with some notifications, re-
quests previously made by various
agencies Of the Federal Government,
and 1t may be regarded as super
seding and consolidating all Of those
Timeliness Is Important.
Special attention Is directed to
the fact that all Of the requests in
the summary are modified by a
proviso that the information listed
may properly be published when
by appropriate authority.
News on all of these subjects will
become available from Government
but In war, timeliness is an
factor, and the Govern
ment unquestionably is in the best
position to decide when disclosure
Is timely.
1.-THE specific information which
and magazines are
asked not to publish except when
such information Is made available
oficially by appropriate authority
falls into the following classes:
TROOPS.
1.-THE general character and move
ments OF United States Army units,
within or without the continental
limits Of the United States-their
location, identity or exact compost
ton, equipment or strength; their
routes and schedules;
their assembly for embarkation,
embarkation or actual
embarkation. Any such information
regarding the troops of friendly ma
tions on American soil.
("Note: The request rs regards
location and general character
does not apply to troops in train
ing camps in continental United
States, nor to units assigned to