Evening star., 1947-05-27
NOTWITHSTANDING,
NofPropaganda, Iskey
To Peace, Cooper Says.
Bv tbs A.soeiu,ed Pres.

IOFedIes IUUptI 0dHl
BY the Associated Press
CHICAGO, May 27.-Internation-
al amity can best be attained by
news exchange through
the press and It's news agencies, In
stead of through "tf1e discredited
methods" of. Government propa-
ganda, Kent Cooper said last night.
Mr.. Cooper, who described propa-
ganda as tool Of dictators, was q
guest of the 25th anniversary cele-
bration of the Medill School Of
Journalism of Northwestern Uni
versity He explained he was speak
ing solely as an individual and not
as the executive director Of the
Associated Press.
He criticized vigorously a State
plan, now before Con-
gress, for an agency to distribute
news abroad, saying 1t embraced an
old world practice that has been
"discredited and proved dangerous.
Government Warned.
Il hope our Government will re-
member that its propaganda can
act as an abrasive that can do more
harm than good; that 1t Is mael-
strom Of international self-seeking
where wars are brewed."
He said there could be no success
full method of establishing interna-
tional friendship that does not
provide for complete news exchange
between all countries free from the
tain of government handling.
The news of one country should not
go to the world in the form of
propaganda to. create prejudice, or
to gain converts, but only to inform.
IF they are not hampered, the
American news agencies can do far
more to bring credit upon America
through honesty in news than any
Government effort can ever hope
to do" Mr.. Cooper declared.
The American news agencies re-
ports, he said, typify what a free
press has done for the United States.
There existed a practical possibility
of making the conception world
wide, he added, "if government med
ding in news dissemination is not
too destructive"
World Wants News.
~It Is the American conception OF
fortnight honesty in news from the
American press that the rest Of the
world has proved it really wants
from us-not seductive propaganda.
IT would risk my country's future |
upon what its own ideals have de-
veloped-like its free press. for
example, and truthful, international
news exchange through its press,
rather than upon the old world
methods of news contamination by
governments. America has always
been at its best when in its youthful
vigor 1t gives the world new idea
which may benefit mankind. On
the ohter hand. it has never done
well when it has adopted old world
practices"
If communism is to be thwarted,
he said, mot propaganda but the
method Of military force
alone could accomplish it-as In
Japan But even If all the vast
hordes Of underprivileged in all of
Eastern Europe had radios and thus
could hear the Voice of America, I
am afraid they would spurn COM
mrmism and rejoice only If the
Voice of America were something
more, than voice"-military power,
food, clothing. land homes and free
dom to enjoy them. ...e. .-ta.,..z
Propaganda Denounced.
"If Russian hatred turns against
us and leads to solidifying the hold
communism has upon them, our
propaganda will have had the same
effect as the best kind of Communist
"If the. Government were in the
news agency business here at home,
its propaganda could at least be
under constant observation by the
American people who could call 1t to
account. Respecting propaganda
sent abroad they are helpless. For
they are unaware and have no
Of knowing what one single
group in one Govern
ment department is broadcasting to
foreign lands that may lead us all
to catastrophe. A strange phenome-
non has been created indeed; the
Voice of America (the State De-
partment's name for it's foreign |
is speaking without |
America itself knowing what it is
saying"
Mr.. Cooper said the American
press was unanimously sponsoring !
worldwide news exchange" through
its own news agencies and that such |
exchange offered the best promise of |
mutual confidence among all peo-
Y,1pS