Evening star., 1946-04-23
Russian Editors S Talk
Screened, Says Writer
Quotes Top Level Words Which,
He Says, Went Untranslated
BY David Laurence

he Says, Went Untranslated
By David Laurence
The three newspapermen from Russia
who have been attending the meeting
here Of the American Society of News
paper Editors made favorable tmpres.
sion but it would have been even more
favorable if the translator hadn't for
gotten to repeat to the audience one Of
the statements Of the Russians.
THE peoples of the two countries"
said one of the Russian editors, really
want to get closer together but this
isn't always possible because OF things
at the top level"
Presumably the point was that two
governments get entangled in differ
ences which the respective peoples do
not relish but are unable to prevent.
From the American viewpoint there is,
however, way to prevent such con-
tingency. 1t is to open up wide all ques-
tions for public discussion. The Russian
form of censorship in peacetime keeps
essential information away from the
people.
Thus, the three Russian visitors said
quite generously that they would like
to see more American correspondents
coming to Russia, but what the Moscow
newspapermen evidently do not know is
that their own government has strict
| policy about admitting foreign CORE
| spondents
Blamed Red Tape.
One of the visitors, when told Of the
| delays, thought it might be the bureau
cratic red tape which is customary in
all countries, and he referred humor-
ously to the delay in admitting the Rus
sian editors themselves through the i'm
migration inspection in New York. But
such delays of a few hours are not to be
compared with the difficulties expert
enced by American newspapers in trying
to send correspondents to Moscow.
Great newspapers like the New York
Times have encountered long delays in
getting correspondents into Russia, and
the same thing is true of the Chicago
Sun, which has been friendly to Russian
| policies. What is most embarrassing
about such delays is that newspapers
| must keep their correspondents mark
ing time in London or Berlin for months
while they wait for the desired permis-
sion.
| Does it not seem possible that Mos
COW could give yes or mo- answer
more promptly as a courtesy to the
American newspapers? Sometimes a
whole year elapses before an answer
is given.
Moscow is an important capital. From
news standpoint, it is as important
as if not more important than, either
Washington or London. The Amer
ican press would send 100 correspond
ents there tomorrow if the Russians
allowed it. Actually there are fewer
than a dozen correspondents of all the
foreign press, British included, in Mos
cow today.
With all the outcry in the United
States for better understanding between
Russia and the United States-and the
feeling is widespread and genuine-it
would seem that admission of American
correspondents to Moscow would be one
way to assure better relationships and
better understanding.
Visitors Seemed Sincere.
The Russian newspapermen made a
hit with the Americans. They seemed
to be sincere and plainly desirous of
doing everything in their power to bring
about closer relations between the
American and the Russian peoples But
are they free agents? One newspaper
man here who speaks Russian told this
correspondent that each Russian visitor
was accompanied by an observer from
the Russian secret police who acts as
translator. None of the Russian editors
speak or understand English.
With all the disadvantages Of the
language barrier, it is nevertheless a
fine thing that the Russian editors came
to the United States. Certainly they
addressed an influential gathering Of
editors Of American newspapers and
there could be no mistaking the warmth
Of the reception accorded the Russians
every time they made an appearance.
The significant fact is that the Rus
sian and American peoples could be
fast friends. Will the governments be
able to maintain that friendship or will
the rapidly increasing number of dis
puted points ultimately wind up in a
revelation to the peoples of both the
United States and Russia that their
governments have not been able to get
along with each other? The next few
weeks may tell the story, for the out
look for a settlement of difficult points
is far from bright.
1t takes more patience than is gen.
orally imagined to be Secretary of State
these days, and James F. Byrnes appears
to be quietly exercising patience. for
bearance and restraint. He Is endeav-
oring to work out agreements and ad-
justments in the face of bewildering
array Of unreasonable demands which
apparently have little to do with the
security of Russia but which have every-
thing to do with the rise of Allied dis
cord in Europe.
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