The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-03-30

Journalists May
be Snapped With
South America
By Charles P. Stewart

By NuAAtb r oleNuih
SWAPPING OF NEWSPAPER
MEN between the United states
and Latin America is what VIC
both need for the development OF
profitable as well as pleasant In
tercnntinental relations both now
and after the war.
Our big news gathering and dis
seminating associations handle
their fob efficiently. 40 far as CON
Germs the stuff that journalists
call spot news. These concerns
wouldn't welcome any government
al putting IN, and it wouldn I serve
a desirable end.
Rather. more intimate chatti-
ness is what is required.
vice President Wallace's tour
OF our neighbours capitals has
been exactly the correct thing.
It's only drawback Is that, I'M
avoidably, It has 70 be too hur-
ried. Henry doubtless has his ad-
verse critics at home, but his tenn
permanent was made TO order for
our western hemispherical Latins.
However, he ought 10 be assigned
10 circulate permanently among
them and keep them lined up pro
Yankee-ly.
The Vice President. incidentally,
n newspaperman. Maybe that is
one OF the reasons why he is so
eccentric. 1t Is immaterial, though,
because, for the present, he cant
be spared from here long.
There are some more Yankee
newspapermen jOurney.ng south
ward and the Latins are sending
sone few OF their craftsmen here.
II is gratifying tendency, but
It ought 10 be kept up.
We made 8 oorking good start
on Pan-American news unity in
the era Of World War No. l.
We then called our organization
me Committee on Public Informa'
tion,-presently compacted into
COMPUTE, just as the Office OF
War Information today Is con-
tracted 70 Owl.
George Creel progressed a darned
sight more harmoniously with the
COMPUTE than has been the case
with Director Elmer Davis OF the
owl.
That Is, Elmer's had a lot OF
friction; George had none 70 speak
Of
For one thing, George is Of a
btander temperament than Elmer.
The latter Is decidedly pugnacious
when provoked. He seems TO enjoy
controversy. George lodged II all
he could and avoided calling
names even when compelled to ex-
press himself in the face Of crit
ciEm
Conditions we're different. too.
Creel's COMPUB started from
scratch No enemies we're laying
for Il IN advance Lowell Mellett
had been running the govern
ments publicity ahead Of Elmer's
owl and part OK the criticism OF
Elmer'E regime Is a slop-over from
Lowells administration.
Politics didn't enter into
Georges operations, either.
Nobody ever accused him o.
plugging for an additional presi-
Dental term. His information bur
eau unquestionably vas exactly
what II purported TO be-a con-
venient source OF war news, and
q reliable one. And unquestionably
II TRIED 70 be so.
During most OF the period OF our
participation. IN World War No. l,
/ ran the co MPUB service, as To-
cally territorial editor for the
River Plate Republics, though the
fact Is that my area covered a con
siderable wider range than that,
extending all the way up and down
the south American east coast,
from Patagonia up 10. or some
what beyond, the equator, and
back into the interior as Tar as
Chile.
Now what We should hars es0S
was 70 keep that service gong ol
lowing the wars end.
It should have been maintained.
rather for publicity.promotion than
for Notwithstanding purposes, for
our organization was liked, and
we simply pinched it out. OF
course that skwushed our news in
f1uence
The nub Is. our requirement Is
for a good bit Of intelligent propa-
ganda work, consistently kept up,
70 solidify this hemisphere. Maybe
the Rockefeller inter-American bu-
reau will accomplish the stunt, but
II would have been a generation
sooner with II II George CreeIs
work had been kept up 70 date
since the end Of the last opportun-
ity.