The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-13
Newspaper Editors Urge
Freedom OLnformati0n
CONTINUED From Page One)

private power to control media o.
information was first submitted tt
the U. N. some time ago. It was
outlined to the u MS Economic
and Social council Thursday by
Wilbur Forrest, president of ASNl
and chairman of it's committee or
world. freedom of Information.
Speed Essential
The editors said, 'it is impera.
tive that concrete action on world
freedom of information should
come from the United Nations as.
sembly this autumn" asserting
that delay beyond that time not
only will discourage the world
press which showed an active in
terest during the first assembly
in London but will tend to weaken
faith in the United Nations itself
1--WE believe" they said, that
if the peoples of the earth are to
get along together in peace, there
must be tolerance, good will and
understanding. There is but one
road leading to this imperative
world estate and that is freedom
of information, by which peoples
shall know and understand the
the problems of others. Our object
is, in short. to spread the truth"
The American editors noted that
a subcommission on freedom OF
information and of the press was
established by the Economic and
Social councils commission on hu-
man rights. But, they said. "un-
fortunately, there has been much
delay--it is now that American
editors urge action"
The problem. as previously sub
mitted to U. N. Secretary General
Trygve Lie, proposes that agree
ments between nations be sought to
include:
l.. Recognition that friendship
among nations depend on freedom
and exchange of information.
2. Public labelling of information
paid for in whole or in part by a
government or organization or per-
son.
3. Recognition that any govern
ment or private monopoly OF media
of information is inimical to public
interest.
4. Refusal to recognize the right
Of any government or person to in
fringe upon, discriminate against
or censor information in time OF
peace.
The program, as previously SUBJ
Soviet Foreign Minister v. M. Molo-
tov at Paris for endorsement but
he has not replied. The editors
expected support from French
President Georges Bidault.
IT can assure you" Byrnes In
formed the editors, "that this (Tru-
mani administration will continue
to stand unequivocally Tor world
freedom Of information. I gladly
offer my full support to your Ell
forts to have a convention on the
subject adopted by the U. N. and
commended for acceptance by the
individual states"
Byrnes said that freedom Of in.
formation "cannot be over-empha-
Sized" declaring he was ICON
WINGED that future harmony among
nations would be greatly increased
if all the peoples Of the world were
given maximum freedom Of &C.
cess to all information, particularly
that bearing on international prob
plems and including controversial
matters"
Prime Minister Attlee said that
Il know Of no freedom more i'm
portant at this time than freedom
in the exchange Of information be-
tween the peoples of all countries"
The freedom Of the press" he
declared, "is not a privilege of
newspapers, it is a fundamental
right Of the public to be given the
facts, national and international,
upon which a sound judgement OF
events can be formed"
In calling for the freest possible
flow of information between ma
tions. Attlee said that mo true in
terest Of the ordinary people OF
the world was ever hampered by
letting the truth be known"
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek
asserted:
"Oniy through the dissemination
OF accurate and unbiased news and
information can we ensure the en-.
joyment of real freedom and lay
a solid foundation for an enduring
peace"
Gen. Macarthur proposed the
inclusion of a paragraph in all
our treaties which would guaran.
tee a reciprocal free press and oper
communication facilities"
And the American general prom.
ised that a press which will freely
and adequately mirror the aspira-
tons Of the Japanese people will
be created, now that the letters o.
feudalsm are un%leashed."
mo other single agency can
play a greater role in remakine
Japan into an accepted member Q:
the family of nations than the free
uncontrolled and 11pfottaro, ,r...