Evening star., 1946-07-13
Senate Group Re|axes
Censorship Provision
In Voting UNRRA Fund
By tn. As,ocioted Press

A pulled punch at foreign news
censorship went to the Senate to.
day, along with word that UNRRA
Director La Guardia has demanded
that the Chinese government over
haul its relief setup.
The relaxed censorship provision
aimed at Russia, was contained ir
a S2,700 100000 money bill approved
by the Senate Appropriation Com
rhittee. Disclosure of Mr.. La Guar
d1s's action came in printed testi-
monv of committee hearings on the
measure. which contains S465. 900 900
for UNRRA.
This testimony disclosed that both
Mr.. La Guardia and Assistant Sec
retary of State Clayton had strongly
urged elimination of a House provi-
sion denying UNRRA funds to any
country which refuses to permit ac-
credited American press representa-
tlVeS to ENTER, observe and report
without censorship on the distribu-
ton and utilization of relief" in that
country.
compromise worked Out.
The committee decided against
striking out the. amendment. But
on motion of Senator Ball, Repub-
IGan, of Minnesota, it decided that
none of the UNRRA money in the
bill could be sent unless correspond
ents were permitted to send reports
on UNRRA activities without any
deletions or modifcat tions by CEN
sorship"
Senator Ball said this had the
effect of not challenging Russia 5
right to maintain censorship. but
providing for uncensored dispatches
on UNRRA's operations. He said
he did not know if the new version
Is acceptable to the State Depart
ment and to Mr.. La Guardia.
In testimony taken by the COM
mittee behind closed doors, Senator
Bridges, Republican. of New Hamp-
shire demanded to know of Mr.
Clayton how much longer do we
have to bow down to the dictates of
Russia as to how we spend our own
money!"
Situation Unchanged.
Mr.. Clayton contended that
UNRRA missions in Byelorussia and
the Ukraine. the two Soviet repub-
lies receiving aid. had not been
hampered in any way in distribut-
ing supplies. He said that the CEN
sorship clause would not change the
situation, adding:
1T would make an ally of ours
in the war and a country that we
are trying very hard to work with
for the restoration of the world.
and for future peace, it would make
that country mad and 1 think they
would have right to get mad"
Senator Brooks, Republican. of
Illinois, said he had heard reports
that the Russians give this food to
those people who submit to the
tyranny of Russia and those who
DO not submit to it starve anyhow"
Asserting that UNRRA was a
"heartbreaking Job at best, Mr. La
Guardia told the committee that
the United States ought to do all
it could to create good will.
Supplies Stolen in China.
IT want to hand out this food
he said. I do not want to throw it
at them"
Mr.. La Guardia contended that
he had stopped all but vital food
shipments to China only because
supplies had piled up in ports there
due to the breakdown in inland
transportation. He said these sup
plies were deteriorating and were
being stolen.
The UNRRA chieftain gave the
committee copy of telegram he
said he had sent to GeneraHssimo
Chang Kai-shek May 29 calling for
sweeping changes in the methods Uf
distributing relief goods in that
country.