The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1943-04-12
> Clapper
Id Lifted for
Food Conference
Not TO be Another
CssabIsnes
President Yields
To owl Opinion
BY RAYMOND cLApPER

complete secrecy simplified the
conference. Newspaper reporters
were not allowed in the vicinity.
A complete military blackout was
maintained until the end. when
reporters were flown in for q
staged news conference at which
no questions could be asked
Nobody could complain about
that procedure at such a COM
pletely military conference an
Casablanca. But when Mr.. Roose-
welt began to map out the first
United Nations conference, to be
held toward the end of this month
and to concern food, he thought IL
would be a good idea to follow the
method used at Casablanca. He
would have the conference held at
some isolated spot like Hot
Springs. Va, where there in only
one suitable hotel. and would admit
no newspaper correspondents even
to the hotel. That was the origi-
nal idea
Just a few days ago a news
paper correspondent representing
one of the United Nations asked
for hotel accommodation in the
hotel at Hot Springs and was in
formed the government had COM
Wandered 1t beginning April rs.
Foreign correspondents have
felt II WINS unreasonable on
the part Of this government
to prevent them from having
contact with the delegations
from their own countries.
They did not lodge formal
protest, but they complained
individually TO owl.
Elmer Davis and the whole owl
have been strongly opposed to
keeping the food conference closed.
Mr.. Davis has had several discus
sions about 1t at the White House.
He was having trouble getting the
conference opened up. Prospect
that a most bitter objection would
be made by the press II the plan
were carried through caused the
White House finally to agree to
allow the press 10 cover the con-
ference In the way that hundreds
of conferences have been reported
IN the past.
There is no reason why this
conference should be held in secret.
Newspapers want nothing more
than has been customary In all
conferences. OF curse. closed
sessions of committees will be
necessary. Everybody recognizes
that in discussions and negotia-
tions there must be executive ses-
sions so that everyone can talk 1t
out without having gallery listen
ing IN. But the newspapers do
want the usual opportunity to
talk with delegates and to report
independently on what is going on.
Some high owl people felt
strongly that II would have
been a terrible mistake Ia
close up this first United Ma
lions conference. Reasons
Offered TO justify closing this
conference could have been
cited with logic to justify en-
clusion from subsequent nom
military conferences
The issue Ia fortunately settled
now In a completely satisfactory
way. 1t Is disturbing that it was
ever raised-but perhaps it was
brought UP without having been
thought through. Mr.. Roosevelt is
most anxious. as he should be and
as most Of us are, that the United
Nations get off to q satisfactory
start in its first conference. I
think Mr.. Roosevelt was mistaken
in his Judgment as TO how TO do
II. He has now acted on wiser
second thought
A dangerous precedent has
fortunately been avoided. We
ON hope now that traditional
free press coverage viii OBJ
tain ut the countless United
Nations conferences that are
- come-for many years,
hope.
We have insisted upon the free
press being allowed TO continue
70 function rs usual where no re-
ouirements Of security make Sc
crecy necessary. But having 10
insisted, we are under even more
obligation than usual to justify
that independence and freedom by
responsible and understanding re-
porting and comment. and to
avoid malicious and troublemaking
activity. The old distinction be-
tween liberty and license In very
much TO the point IN this instance.
It's q couple Of years now since
the Duce. that mildewed Caesar.
gave us the one about war being
natures way to keep the race from
going stale
Mother Hubbard's only thought
was for her poor dog Concerning
old Mr.. Hubbard, that nebulous
character, the poet ssyeth naught-
It Is not even known If he had .
ration book
A 60-piece hand appeared with