Detroit evening times., 1945-10-30
"Pravda" SCOTS at i. S. Press

has surrendered all thought Of what we
call elementary freedom was described in
a recent book by Russian--a fugitive,
of course.
He described his life in a large Russian
city while the great famine was raging
that famine in which at least three mil
lion Russians starved to death
People were dropping dead in the
streets. Most of the shops were closed.
The factories were idle for lack of workers
strong enough to toll.
Yet the local newspapers came out day
after day with never a reference TO the
fact that there was even a shortage in
food. In other cities where death was
equally busy, the same thing was true.
Millions died unmentioned
FT'HE extent 10 which the Russian people have
surrendered freedom of the press is shown
in an article in this months American Mercury
by Russian who came 10 this country as So
wet official and decided that he would rather stay
and live in this benighted country than 20 back
and be liquidated in his dear homeland.
Though he had been ardent party man
and has passed the exceedingly rigid tests a
Russian must pass before he is permitted 10 go
abroad his Fellow OFFICIALS spied on him and when
they found him reading liberal American maga-
zine in the Russian language. he warned that
further indulgence might be fatal.
Senator Pepper has been in Russia and he
quotes Stain sending this message 10 the
people. Said Stain:
Just Judge the Soviet Union objectively. Do
not either praise us scold Just know
and Judge us as we and base your estimates
of us upon facts and not rumOrs."
rIO THIS an editorial in the New York Times
replies with a question: How To
know Russia" 1t mentions the complete library
given 10 Russians TO study our country just as
1t is and report what they find But, il goes on:
"An American In Russia can travel only
where the government wishes him to travel, see
only what he IL permitted to see and talk only
with people the government wishes him to talk
with.
He cannot separate facts from rumor be-
cause the government will not give him the
means TO do so.
And when, the basis Of evidence which
Is often insufficient, he prepares his report for
transmission TO the United States. he must sub
NIT II To a heavy-handed censorship which IL moro
interested In the propaganda values than the
objectvity OF his findings.
Moreover, this Ia true not only throughout
the whole territory of the USSR. II IL also true
wherever, outside OF the USSR, Russian influence
10 paramount today.
"For months own government was placed
In the humiliatng position of begging Russia TO
permit American newspaper correspondents to
Romania. Bulgaria, etc--which had been liber-
nted from German domination with the aid of
American arms"
EURTHERMORE, as the Times points out
Russia entered the Japanese War few DAYS
before the end OF it and promptly took oyer
Manchuria and part Of Korea, and at once put
a black-out on all news. We whipped Japan and
freed Korea and Manchuria, and yet we cannot
get reports from there
We helped save Russia. She wants six billion
dollars more from US. Yet We cannot talk with
her in frankness.
We cannot learn how the Russian people
feel. There are nearly 200 million of them The
ruling party contains less than five million people
yet denies freedom of speech or press not only to
the nearly 200 million Russians. but to us as we'll
How can we enter into alliance with power
that keeps both itself and its people in the dark
while we stand in the light!
Freedom of speech and press are the only
light that keeps America American
Only in the light can we find our way about
and grow in health and strength. Only in free
dom Il there hope for the world.