Evening star., 1943-02-15
Better UNDERSTANDING
Believed Reached
Between u. s., Press
War Problems of Both
Threshed Out at
Conference Here

Members of the American Society
Of Newspaper Editors wound up
their war session here yesterday
convinced that the exchange of
points of view with national leaders
which featured the meeting had re-
suited II: better understanding be-
tween Government and the press.
One of the editors last steps be-
fore Separting to return to their
desks was to adopt resolutions CALI
ing, among other things. for a world
guarantee of freedom of the press
after the war and opposing efforts
to put any press association under
the power of Congress to regulate
commerce.
Roy Roberts, new ASNE presi-
dent and managing editor of the
Kansas City Star. declared the
meeting of benefit to both the edi-
tors and the national leaders.
Got Off-Record Story of War.
I'VE came here at the Govern
ment's invitation to get the of the
record story of the war-and the
newspapers part in it." he said.
We got it. Everybody Opened up,
from the President on down. Some
times the sessions turned into reg
ular slugging matches with give
and-take on both sides. But we
understand their problems now and
they can appreciate ours. We won t
always agree on policy details, but
we are far better able to work them
out-now that We have reached
general understanding" .
The resolutions were drawn up
after two days of conferences which
IN some instances were largely
frank discussions behind closed
doors with Government civil and
military leaders. One of the meas
ures advocated a Government policy
OF making public facts to which
the people are entitled, instead OF
giving this information, as in the
past, to privileged writer's"
Before adjourning the editors
appointed liaison committee
composed of Washington editors
whose purpose will be to bring closer
contact between press and Govern
ment. 1t is headed by BENJAMIN
M. McKelway, associate editor of
The Star. Other members are David
Lawrence of the United States
News. ASNE treasurer, and Alex
ander F. Jones of the WASHINGTON
Post.
Censorship Discussed.
Both Mr.. Roberts and w. S. Gill
more Of the Detroit News, retiring
president, termed the meeting the
most successful in the history OF
the society and said they hoped
Government officials got as much
out of it as we did"
Mr.. Roberts also said he hoped the
discussions had made clear that
such agencies as the Office of War
Information should skate on the
solid ice of fact, not the thin ice OF
propaganda"
Five OF the editors enlarged upon
their censorship views in a discus
sion Of problems with Director Byron
Price of the ONCE of Censorship on
the American Forum of the Air pro-
gram last night. They were MIR
Roberts, Basil L. Walters, executive
editor Of the Minneapolis STAR
Journal and Tribune; A. H Kirch-
hofer, managing editor of the Buff
falo Evening News: Palmer Hoyt,
editor of the Portland Oregonian,
and Wilbur Forrest. assistant editor
Of the New York Herald Tribune.
The text OF the resolution asking
Worldwide guarantee of freedom
CT the press follows:
Il Resolved, That the action of
Secretary of State Hull In publish
ing the recent White Book be COM
mended. the hope of the American
Society of Newspaper Editors being
that this marks the beginning of a
policy whereby the Government will
officially inform the public Of facts
TO which the people are entitled
instead Of giving this information,
as in the past, to privileged writer's
who, with their publishers, have
reaped mearned financial rewards
by commercializing that which be-
longs to all the people.
%. Whereas, the American So
ciety of Newspaper Editors takes