Imperial Valley press., 1945-05-08
SUPPRESSION OF FREEDOM
Of SPEECH. TO PLEASE STALIN?

u d long, long time neWSmen on for
eign shores and distant battlefields have
ooJected strenuously to alleged abuses
u war censorship.
On Monday, the American people had
iald before their very eyes, the exact
KIND OF suppression of free speech to
winch the American Press has SO out
spokenly objected.
1t is for each of US as individuals to
Judge whether this government, or any
other of the Allied governments, is rum
nlng wild with the idea of censorship or
using it for the purpose for which it was
designed, namely, military necessity.
Prior to 500 a. M Monday morning,
the German government surrendered in
toto. Apparently, SHAEF, (Supreme
headquarters, American Expeditionary
Forces) refused to permit dissemination
Of this truth. Also apparently, of the
many news-gathering services, one claim
ed that this was not news which would
lnjure the war program and filed fact
ual, truthful story. The other services,
fearful Of reprisal by our own govern
ment, abided by the rule that no news
was to be permitted except by 'permis-
sion"
Three evident facts present themselves:
Firstly, the report was true. It's pub
LEGATION certainly could not injure the
war effort. No one, not even the Presi-
dent of the United States had any right
to suppress 1T +. :. F.. no one can hold himself
above the liberties of this country
Secondly, the fear of reprisal by the
other news services was justified. Be-
cause it broke the perverted uses of CEN
sorship, the non-abiding service officially
was refused access to all means Of send
ing further news
What was the excuse given for sun
preston of this non-military nature?
We quote the exact words Of President
Truman:
81 have agreed with the London and
Moscow governments" he said, that. 7
will make no announcement with refer
ence to the surrender of the enemy forces
in Europe or elsewhere until a simultan-
seous statement can be made by the three
governments"
,, That is Grass international horse-trad-
ing with constitutional American rights!
By what God-given authority can any
one in this country withhold Truth from
the American people? Can we suppress
news to satisfy Stain who never has
agreed with the idea Of freedom of speech
and press (Which only means freedom to
state the TRUTH
Why not make the simple announce
'ment of German surrender and let every
government make its own follow-up
statements at some agreed-upon date and
hour?
: Was it whim or fancy to withhold
news from the entire world because of a.
silly agreement" like the one referred to
by Mr.. Truman and Mr.. Churchill?
Would publication of the facts hurt the
war-effort? Not that we can perceive.
German and Austrian radio stations an
nounced the total surrender.
All-in-all, the whole thing was purile,
childish and silly.
Especially is this true in view of the
evident admission by all concerned that
surrender had come. Mr.. Truman's
words acknowledged t. Mr. ChurchilPs
words acknowledged it. Mr.. Churchilrs
words acknowledged it. But they would
not be fortnight because an agreement
has been made"
Piffle!
Here, Mr.. and Mrs Public, is the evil
dence of how governmental censorship
can be perverted, cheapened, trafficked
in, traded back and forth.
There has been far too much with
holding of the truth! This MUST mark
the end of it!