Evening star., 1946-09-13
Editors Society Asks
u. n. Covenant Now
For Free World Press
Ny tho Assoeioied Press

Sept. 13.-The American Society O
Newspaper Editors pressed tn
United Nations today to adopt q
its autumn assembly session a GOV
enant to establish world freedom
of information and of the press.
The proposal to open the door
throughout the world to informa
lion for all people was submitted
10 the U. N. Economic and Socia
Council with the support of spokes
men for three big nations-Secre
tary Of State Byrnes, Prime Minister
Clement Atlee of Great Britain ant
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek O.
China. It also was indorsed by Gen
Douglas Macarthur, administrator
of defeated Japan, and the Gov.
ernors of Al States.
The specific program to estab.
lish the principle of freedom of the
press among all nations and to dis.
courage or prevent government ol
private power to control media ol
information was first submitted tt
the U. N. some time ago. 1t was
outlined to the U. Ms Economic
and Social Council today by Wilbur
Forrest, president of ASNE and
chairman of its Committee on World
Freedom of Information.
Quick. Action Held Necessary.
The editors said, 1T is imperative
shat concrete action ON world free
0om of information should come
from the United Nations Assembly
this autumn" asserting that delay
beyond that time not only will dis
eourage the world press, which
showed an active interest during the
first assembly in London, but will
send to weaken faith in the United
Nations itself"
I'VE believe" they said, that if
the peoples of the earth are to get
along together in peace. there must
oe tolerance. good will and under
standing. There is but one road
leading to this imperative world
estate and that is freedom of infor-
nation, by which peoples shall know
and understand the problems OF
others. Our object is, in short, to
spread the truth"
The American editors noted that
E.. subcommission on freedom of in
.ormation and Of the press was es-
tablished by the Economic and So
cial Councils Commission ON HUI
man Rights. But, they said, "un-
fortunately, there has been much
delay-it is now that American ed
ltors urge action"
Four Points Stressed.
The program, as previously SUBJ
mitted to U. N. Secretary General
Trygve Lie, proposes that agree
ments between nations be sought to
include:
l. Recognition that friendship
among nations depends on freedom
and exchange of information.
3 Public labelling of information
paid for in whole or in part by a
government or organization or per-
son.
3. Recognition that any govern
:nent 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 OF
censor information in time OF
peace.
This program was submitted tc
Soviet Foreign Minister v. M-Molo-
tov at Paris for Endorsement bu,
he has not replied. The editors ex-
pected support from French Presi-
cent Georges Bidault.
U. S. Stand Set Out.
II can assure you" Mr. Byrnes in
formed the editors, that this (Tru-
nam administration will continue
20 stand unequivocally for world
freedom of information. l gladly
offer my full support to your efforts
to have a convention on the SUBJ
iect adopted by the U. N. and COM
raended for acceptance by the in
dividual States"
Mr.. Byrnes said that freedom of
Information cannot be overempha-
sized" declaring he was convinced
that future harmony among nations
would be greatly increased if all
the peoples of the world were given
maximum freedom of access to all
information, particularly that bear
ing on international problems and
including controversial matters"
Prime Minister Attlee said, 'I
know of no freedom more important
at this time than freedom in the
exchange of information between
the peoples of all countries. The
freedom of the press is not privi-
lege of newspapers; it is a fun
damental right of the public to be
given the facts, national and inter-
national, upon which a sound judg-
nent of events can be formed.
mo true interest Of the ordinary
people of the world was ever
hsmpered by letting the truth be
known"
Chang Kai-shek Asks Accuracy.
Generalissimo Chang Kai-shek
asserted:
only through the dissemination
of accurate and unbiased news anc
information can we insure the en-.
joyment of real freedom and lay 6
solid foundation for an enduring
peace"
Gen. Macarthur proposed the in
elusion of a paragraph in all om
treaties which would guarantee g
reciprocal free press and open COM
munication facilities"
And the American general prom
ised that a press which will freely
and adequately mirror the aspira.
tions of the japanese people will b'
created, now that the fetters o.
feudalism are unleashed."
mo other single agency can pla.
q greater role in remaking Japar
into an accepted member of th'
family of nations than the free, un
controlled and unfettered pres
which we are seeking to encourage,
he added
Yugoslav Presides.
The committee of editors submit
ted their program to DR.. Andrij;
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