The Wilmington morning star., 1945-07-30
Our Propaganda
BY ARTHUR KROCK

WASHINGTON, July 23-Uneasness has
been expressed in this country over passage
in the Presidents flag-raising speech in Ber-
lin and the broadcast to japan by Captain
zacharias, U. S. NJ, that was made the next
day.
of territory that we want out of this war;; and
tho question arose whether he meant by this
+h,t we do not intend to retain the strategic
islands taken from Japan in the Pacific.
cantain Zacharias, though reiterating the
requirement of unconditional surrender, told
the JAPANESE people they can make peace
with honor at this juncture and that the
benefits of the Atlantic Charter will go with
4. and this has aroused fears it will persuade
The 1ananese we are weakening and that they
can get even better terms if they hold out.
| Officials here have an explanation of both
statements. which they think should correct
any impression that we plan to give up ne
islands, or that there is confusion or loose
thinking in our propaganda poncy. Inc ex-
PLANTATION will not be satisfactory to all those
who have posed the questions; and events in
the Pacific war may dismally prove the sound
ness of their criticism. But since the govern
ment has not yet stated its own case, 1t might
be serviceable to present it as this correspon-
dent heard it today.
/. Admittedly the Presidents phrase was
lis not the slightest reason to believe he in
tended. He has shown disposition to dis
agree with the view of the Army and Navy
that certain of the Pacific islands we have
captured are essential as bases to the security
of the United States and must stay under ~
American flag. In discussion OF the sub
iect has the President ever indicated con-
trary view.
The context of his Berlin remarks shows
that he was thinking of territorial spoils-
lands belonging to other nations, even van
oushed ones-When he said we want none. He
| linked such territory to things of "a monetary
nature" which he said we did not want either,
demonstrating the point Has purpose was 70
tell all people who have been mdoctrnated
for wears in Europe and Asia by Nazl propa-
ganda to the contrary that these assertions
are false and ne chose a forum where his
words would also be noted IN Japan. In THIS
latter respect the Presidents assurance was
part of his effort to inform the Japanese
people that in defeat they will lose only what
they have seized by force and those distant
islands of theirs which threaten our security
2. Captain Zacharias working on
twofold problem this Government faces in the
Pacific war, and the line he took in his broad
cast is the high official attempt to deal with
lit directly. He sought (a) to persuade the
Japanese people that their military leaders
lie when they predict pillage, enslavement,
announcement OF the nome lSlduuS, ldplIlC
and the overthrow of their scored institutions
as the inevitable consequences of unconditional
surrender, the hope being that if the Japa-
nese masses can be brought to realize this,
the war will be shortened and many American
lives will be spared. He sought CD to show
the American people the effort that is being
made to save those lives.
This particular broadcast was published
for reason Co., Even before the death of Presi.
Il oft cLr Ian in, this
country against the Cairo Declaration and the
reiteration of unconditional surrender, the ar
gurnent being that these merely stiffen the re
sistance of the Japanese, strengthen the lead
erShlp of their war party and lengthen the war
unnecessarily at the cost of thousands OF
American lives. The position was maintained
by President Truman, however, that the terms
Of surrender must remain unconditional. But
at the same time his government thought it
wise to meet the attacks at home ard confute
the propag anda of the war lords in Japan by
explaining publicly what unconditional sur
render does NOT mean, thus aiming at both
targets with one statement, which was the
broadcast of Captain Zacharias.
He is officer of the Navy, but his work
is with the Office of War information to which
he is accredited and which has responsibility
for what he has been beaming to Japan sad,
IN this instance, to the American people as
well. He knows the President and has been
one OF his consutants on this propaganda. Also
the Owl would not have passed the broad
cast, or released it for home attention. on its
own decision. Approval undoubtedly was given
at Potsdam.
This is the explanation of the two utter
ances that was made to this correspondent
today by persons In authority who are closely
informed on the entire problem and deal with
it on top level of operations. Il the light
of it the Presidents remark will probably be
dismissed as simply an overcondensation of
words. Some of the critics of the policy repre-
scented by the broadcast and its domestic lNb-
LEGATION may also accept the rest of the arg
ment though it is probable that many will
still think it oversubtle, confused, or
major error in terms of japanese psychology.
And, as suggested above, events in the Pacific
war may justify the criticism
What no official would admit was the wide
spread surmlse that another purpose OF the
broadcast was to end the war before Soviet
Russia enters it and avoid the complications
|oI this victorious partnership York