Evening star., 1946-09-14
Al Governors Throw
Support Behind ASNE
United Nations Pact
BY The kssocioted Press

LAKE SUCCESS, N. Y, Sept. IA
Forty-one United States Governors
threw their support today behind
the request of the American Society
of Newspaper Editors that the
United Nations General Assembly
adopt covenant to establish world
freedom Of information and of the
press.
Letters from the Governors were
included in proposal submitted to
members of the U. N Economic and
Social Council here by Wilbur For
rest, ASNE president and chairman
Of its standing Committee on World
Freedom of Information.
The specific program on which
ASNE asks the U. N. assembly to take
concrete action" this fall calls for
establishment Of the principle of
freedom of the press among all
nations. 1t further aims to dis
courage or prevent government or
private monopoly of media Of in
formation.
The program has been Endorsed
by Secretary of State James F.
Byrnes, Prime Minister Clement
Attlee of Britain, Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek Of China, Prime
Minister Jan Christian Smuts of
South Africa and Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, administrator over con-
quered Japan.
The editors reminded the eco
nomic and social council OF the deel
interest of President Truman and
the late President Roosevelt in press
freedom as evidenced by them in
communications to ASNE.
Here are excerpts from some oil
the statements by the Governors:
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey of New
York-"Personal liberty and the
proper respect for the dignity oil
the individual are impossible with.
out free press. The same neces-
sity applies in these days to ex-
change of information among ma
tions. There can be no sure or
safe freedom anywhere while an
iron curtain exists in the world
Gov. Dwight Griswold of Nebra-
ska-"Whatever success those of us
who inhabit the earth achieve in
holding of another world conflict
will have its roots in mutual under
standing, appreciation and trust
if peace Is in the hearts of oul
peoples, then let it have freedom
of expression. If peace is not ir
the hearts of our people. the sooner
we find it out the sooner he will bt
able to diagnose the trouble
Gov. Edward Martin of Pennsyl.
vania-"Unless freedom of infor.
nation exists, the maintenance o.
world security is endangered = -
Gov. Dwight H. Green of Illinoi.
Science has dissolved the factor
of distances. World freedom of in.
formation would bring all ends o.
the world even closer in a com.
mon conception of the need o.
peace and the ways Of achieving it.
Gov. Frank j. Lausche of Ohio
'The greatest avenue to peace lie.
through a world free press"
Gov. Earl Warren of California
"The maintenance of peace is +,
matter which will always be de.
pendent upon understanding, and Il
is elemental that such understand.
ing will always be dependent upor
a free exchange Of information.
Gov. Maurice j. Tobin Of Mas.
sachusetts-"I am hopeful that the
Assembly Of the United Nations will
approve the program which aims
to strengthen the foundations OF
international peace just as freedom
OF the press has buttressed the civic,
economic and social structure of
our United States of America"
Gov. Walter E. Edge Of New Jersey
THE world would be better of, to
my mind, if this freedom of the
press and freedom of speech were
extended to all nations
The Governors Of Michigan, Mis-
souri,, Indiana. Georgia, Wisconsin,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Vir-
gipia, Iowa, Louisiana. Oklahoma,
Arkansas, West Virginia, South
Carolina, Florida, Maryland. Kansas,
Washington, Connecticut, Colorado,
Oregon, Rhode Island. South
Dakota. North Dakota, Utah, Mon
tana, New Mexico. Vermont, Della
ware. wyoming and Nevada added
their voices to the press freedom
appeal Of the editors.