The Ypsilanti daily press., 1945-12-15

ly matter OF principle. DIS.
patches must be sent via Moscow
where they pass through the rigid
Russian censorship, and at any
rate they frequently take many
days TO reach their destination"
He continued that this situation
is typical OF the censorship situa.
tion In large parts OF eastern
Europe where foreign cores
pondents do not work under any.
thing like the free-press conditions
Of the western world -"
As a matter OF fact. Chang Kai.
shek is initiating the attitude OF
the eastern European countries IN
demanding that only friendly Am
erican reporters be sent to China.
He objects to Edgar Snow and
others because they have constant
ly and uniformly opposed the Ma,
tional government OF China; they
have supported the Chinese Com
munists, and in an conflict be-
tween China and Soviet Russia
they have been more than favor
able to Soviet Russia.
The real trouble with the Rus
SLAMS, the Chinese. the Rumanians,
Bulgarians. Hungarians and all the
rest is that they do not at all un.
derstand the meaning OF the term
free press. What they want is
"factual press, which is one that
limits itself to sending TO this
country government handouts.
without explanation OF interpreta-
ton. To them a newspaper is
an organ OF propaganda. They
cannot understand at all how
newspaper can publish, as do
many American newspapers do,
Westbrook Pegler. Walter Win
chell. Paul Mallon, Drew Pearson,
Dorothy Thompson and myself
writers OF belligerently differing
views-not only in the same paper
but often on the same page.
disagree with Edgar SHOWS
views on China and distrust them,
but recognize that he has a right TO
express them and that Chang Kai.
shek has a right to object to them.
But no one upon the face OF the
Earth has right to suppress them.
To be consistent. NJ report from
Soviet Russia is to he believed, to
be &C 3epted as true, until the So
Wet government recognizes the
credentials OF any authenticated
representative OF the American
press, MT only to sit In Moscow
but TO follow any story wherever
Il might lead. A reporter to be
strictly honest ought to label every
government handout as such.
The foreign correspondent who
has no views OF his own on the
country in which he is situated Is
not worth the eXpen-e OF keeping
him there. Such reporter Is In
capable OF thought, lacking in OBJ
servGtion and insensible to his sur
roundings. American newspapers
not only send their own reporters,
purchase wire services, OF which
there are several and none govern
ment.owned. but also employ col
umnists and special writers. No
editor believes or agrees with
everything he publishes, but he
hopes that out OF the welter the
truth will appear. He knows that
no one has a monopoly on the truth.
The solution for this country is
that Congress pass law for recip-
rocal freedom of the press; that Is,
that countries that refuse to pro-
vide freedom for duly authenticat-
ed reporters (by newspapers, maga-
zines and press services) be pre-
cluded from sending correspond
ents 20 this country; that coun-
tries which censor dispatches TO
America be forbidden to have cor
respondents in this country; that
no loans, no relief, no assistance
Of any kind be given by US to coun-
tries which reject freedom OF the
press. And that should apply 20
everybody indiscriminately.
Copyright, 1945. for Daily Press)