Evening star., 1942-01-22

The Office of Facts and Figures,
headed by Archibald MacLeish, Lii
brarian of Congress, is now revealed
as the policy making agency of the
Government regarding information
particularly of the progress of the
war program, which is to be given
to the American people.
Mr.. MacLeish, at press confer
ence yesterday, in the library annex
outlined the work the Office will per-
form. While from time to time the
Office of Facts and Figures will issue
reports to the public-the first, a re-
port to the Nation on the progress of
the war effort up to date, will be
issued tomorrow-Mr. MacLeish ex-
planned that the individual depart
ments and agencies of the Govern
ment will make their own statements
to the press. His Office will seek to lay
down broad policies to be followed by
these agencies in the issuance of in
formation.
The effort of the Office Of Facts
and Figures, its head said, would be
to have presented to the people
production communiques," giving
information about the progress of
the war effort within the limits of
national security" Some of these
communiques would come from his
own office-but they would be rare.
Cabinet Members a Problem.
The executive order setting up
the Office of Facts and Figures,
gives the Office wide powers. Ad-
mittedly, however, as Mr.. MacLeish
pointed out, members of the Presi-
dents cabinet must speak freely.
No one can or would censor them.
Nevertheless, it was essential, he
said, that statements of the Gov
ernment be coherent and stand
together.
The statements recently made by
Secretary of Commerce Jesse Jones
regarding rubber, which have been
sharply criticised for overoptimism
by members of Congress, were called
to Mr.. MacLeish's attention by a
reporter. Mr.. MacLeish, without
commenting upon the statements,
said that he hoped to be able to
90 to Mr.. Jones, and that lit Is
extremely difficult to deal with the
utterances of cabinet officers"
At the suggestion of some of his
interviewers Mr. MacLeish said that
he believed it would be valuable to
have a committee of the working
press meet with his organization. as
an advisory body. Steps to carry
out such a plan will be undertaken,
it was said later.
Plans No Censorship.
Mr. MacLeish described the efforts
of the Government to inform the
American people and to bolster their
morale as a strategy OF truth" in
contrast to the Axis governments
strategy Of terror" He said that
his Office would seek to bring about
the publication of facts giving aid
and comfort to our own people. "
His was not, he said. an office of
censorship. That duty would be left
to the Office of Censorship. headed
by Byron Price, whose effort was
to prevent the publication of in
formation giving aid and comfort
to the enemy. So far as statements
issued by the Government officials
are concerned. he said, the ONCE
of Censorship would keep hands of.
Describing the setup OF the Office
of Facts and Figures, Mr.. MacLeish
said that it now has a staff of "a,
organized into four bureaus. They
are the Bureau of Intelligence, the
Bureau of Production, the Bureau
of Operations and the Bureau Of
Liaison.
The setup is as follows:
Professional and Administrative.
Director, Archibald MacLeish, Ii
brarian of Congress.
Associate director. Allen Grover,
former vice president, Time, Inc.
Executive officer. Robert Huse.
former associate director. Informa-
tional Service. Social Security Board
Deputy directors: Abraham Feller.
former professor, Yale University
law school: John r. Fleming. for
mer special assistant to the chief.
Bureau of Agricultural Economics,