Evening star., 1946-12-13
Kew York Held ioeo.
For u. N. FinuI Site
Deep Interest of Newspapers
Keeps World Alert to Work
By David Laurence

Deep lnteresf OF Newspapers
Keeps World Alert to Work
By David Laurence
Selecting permanent site for the
United Nations Is not mere matter Of
intercity rivalry. The American delesa-
ton has had to be careful to avoid Offend
ing any Of the cities which have been
seeking the honor, but the truth is there
Is distinct factor Of influence related
to New York City as the future home
Of the peace organization.
The old League Of Nations suffered
from lack Of publicity. The American
people read only brief dispatches Aeout
what was happening In Geneva. The
interest was occasional rather than
constant.
Already the attention given by the
New York City newspapers and the
press associations in dispatches and ar
ticles about the work Of the United Ma
tions In the last few months greatly
exceeds all that was written about the
proceedings Of the old League in all the
years Of its existence. This is largely
due to the fact that the U. N. has been
meeting In New York City where the i'm.
partiality Of the newspapers and the
deep interest they take In the U. N. Is
among the gratifying developments OF
the postwar period.
Factor In Success.
It Is impossible to exaggerate the inn
portance Of widespread publicity about
the U. N as factor in its future success.
II physical force is to be subordinated
as means Of settling international
disputes, then moral force becomes all
important The basic factor in moral
force is understanding, which is best
achieved through the widest possible
dissemination of facts and by the publi-
cation of statements Of opinion by all
parties.
New York City also is center Of
world communication. Access to all
parts of the world by radio, phone and
cable is instantaneous and facilities for
the actual handling Of the business Of .
world wide organization are already
adequate.
No less important, too, than the ia
cilities of actual communication Is the
atmosphere of cosmopolitanism which
New York City provides for the dele
gates themselves. There Is hardly .
delegation which will not and social
recreation among the nationals of its own
country In New York City. Hence trans
lators and personnel of the U. N. ind
New York Scongenial place for their
work.
From an administrative viewpoint, the
announcement of plan which will
give skyscrapers to the U. N. on large
tract in the heart of New York along
side the East River is good news. To
spread the u. N. over q big area Of
ground where the ofices are far apart
would not make for efficiency and would
be wasteful In the long run.
The newspapers and press associa-
tions will find it much easier to keep
track Of what is going on in the U. N.
il its activities are confined to com.
pact site readily accessible than II the
headquarters were located In some sub
urb of big city where the tendency
would be to take look at the q. N only
when something sensational was cc..
curing 40
Hear Voice of Masses.
The y. N. In sense win be q part
OF the largest city in the world and
will hear the voice of masses Of people
as it comes from all nationahties and
all classes. Foreign Language papers.
American papers, pamphlets, forums
and headquarter establishments for
many national and international or.
ganizations are to be found in New
York. There is an unrestricted and
uncensored opportunity for national
and international opinion to be formed
in the metropolis. ~
Some critics thought all this q dis
advantage on the ground that the U. N.
could do its work best in some secluded
spot But seclusion could bring indif-
ference And it was indifference which
became neglect insofar as the old
League of Nations was concerned.
The U. N, with its slow-moving ma
chinery, reflects nevertheless the slow
moving reason Of world eager for
peace and especially eager for the in
ternational understanding which must
be developed in an age Of atomic power.
With due respect to the claims OF other
cities. the gift by John D. Rockefeller.
jr., of valuable tract of land in mid
town New York swings the balance to
New York. It was not merely an act Of
generosity by philanthropist. It was
an act of q peace-loving man speaking
for a peace-loving nation which wants
to see the U. N. succeed and will not
allow mere obstacles of site or buildings
to retard the growth of the international
organization which mankind hopes viii
end all war.
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Ample Ground for Worry