Evening star., 1947-07-25
|Press Freedom Vital
In Preserving Peace,
Canadian Tells u. n.
BY the Associated Press

LAKE SUCCESS. July 25.-PauI
Martin, Canadian Minister of Ma
tional Health and Welfare, declared
today the principles of freedom Of
information and of the press are
essential to the maintenance of in
ternational peace and other objec-
tives of the United Nations.
In an address to the United Ma
tions Economic and Social Council
on the report of the U. N. Sub
commission on Freedom of Infor-
nation and of the Press. Mr.. Martin
said his government supported the
subcommission's recommendation
that a projected world conference
on freedom of information be held
early next year. He said Canads
attached great importance to this
conference.
THE people and the government
of Canada believe that freedom Of
information and freedom of the
press are not only basic freedoms
in themselves but are essential tc
the fruitful exercise of other basic
freedoms Mr.. Martin said.
Sees Peril to Democracy.
He added that without adequate
access to comprehensive and objec-
tive information on the world in
which we live, the very existence
Of democracy could be endangered
Mr. Martin told the delegates that
his Government believed that IA
cilities for full comprehensive ano
objective reporting, and the right
of access of all men to such infor-
nation will contribute to interna
tional understanding and friend.
ship"
1--WE believe, Also" he said, "that
the principles of freedom of infor-
nation and freedom of the press are
essential to the other purposes Of
the United Nations-to the mainte.
nance of international peace, and tt
the solution of problems of an eco.
nomic, social, cultural and humani.
tartan character. We believe tha
it is essential to the promotion o1
social progress and better standard!
of living in larger freedom
Mr.. Martin declared that the dele.
gates had met in the U. N. to make
an effort to build a true community
Of all the people of the world. HI
said that his Government deplorec
any effort to limit or destroy that
community.
I'VE are inevitably concerned with
any barriers which might remove
any peoples, or groups of peoples, in
any part of the world, from the
process of e-and-take in eco
nomic, cultural or political affairs
which full participation in world
community implies" he said.
Denial of Visas Assailed.
I'VE are concerned lest any such
existing barriers be extended, we
are deeply desirous that any existing
barriers be removed. I need hardly
stress the relevance of this prin-
|ciple to freedom of information
For censorship of outgoing news is
one such barrier; internal censor
ship is another; prohibition of i'm
ported books and periodicals Is a
third. Denial of visas for foreign
correspondents is also barrier, and
a dangerous one"
The report was drafted by the
subcommission in % meetings this
spring. The subcommission was
called to frame a work schedule
for the world conference. The re-
port must be acted on by the Eco
nomic and Social Council and the
U. N. Assembly.
Proposals for wiping out censor
ship and facilitating the work of
newsmen. around the globe stood
out as high points to be considered
by the world conference. The sub
commission refused to accept a pro-
posal by the Russian member, Y. M.
Lomakin, listing among objectives
OF the press a struggle against
remnants of faScism and against
warmongers
Instead, the subcommission ap-
proved a substitute which included
the general concept that the basic
objective of free information media
is to tell the truth without pre-
judice and to spread knowledge
without malicious intent"