Evening star., 1947-09-08

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II. S. Drafts 7r'
International PI
Assistant Secretary of State Ben.
ton today invited comments anc
suggestions from interested indi.
viduals and organizations on pro.
posed international agreement fol
freedom Of information.
A draft of the proposed treaty
which would guarantee the right
of accredited news and picture
gatherers to enter other countries
move freely and send out theil
material without censorship except
directly for military security, was
made public by Mr.. Benton last
night.
The treaty draft was prepared
under the leadership of Richard j
Finnegan, publisher of the Chicago
Times, after consultation with
leaders of the newspaper, maya
zine, radio and motion picture in
dustries.
Mr.. Finnegan said the principles
embodied in the draft could be
used within the United Nations
or for a multi-lateral convention
of Nations or for a bi-lateral agree
ment.
Right now he declared, 'it is
felt that a start should be made
with a bilateral treaty.
Sentiment Believed at Peak.
He added, in a letter to Mr.. Ben
ton: The sentiment for action
is stronger now than ever
Mr.. Benton agreed that "the free
flow of news and information among
nations and peoples was never more
necessary than it is today. and never
faced with greater array OF dellb-
erately erected barriers"
One portion of the suggested treaty
would set up an international infor-
nation commission, to be composed
of representative correspondents OF
executives of information agencies
designated by their respective gov
ernments. This commission would
have Jurisdiction over all complaints
of a violation of the agreement
holding hearings and making public
reports.
Text of Finnegan Letter.
Mr.. Finnegdn's letter to Mr..
Benton tolloWS
Dear Mr.. Benton:
Herewith is a draft of suggest
ed international treaty on freedom
of information.
In November 1916, you asked me
to attempt the preparation of such
draft. 1t was to reflect as much
as possible the prevalent thinking
among the information media of our
Nation-the press, radio and motion
pictures. You said that the State
Department would like to see draft
that expressed. in principle, the ideas
that private industry would expect
to have our Government write into
an international agreement.
"I consented to undertake the
chore because for many years news
papermen had been hoping that
Congress and the State Depart
ment would bet busy and do some
| thing on the subject. There had
been lot of discussion but no
action.
THE sentiment for action is
stronger now than ever. Leaders
in the newspaper and other media
feel that this is one of those i'm
portant subjects that Is so much
above party and personality diff
ferenceS that it should attract
prompt, unanimous and lasting at
tention in both houses, as we'll as
in the State Department.
TT will be impossible to get all
the elements of private industry to
agree on the wording of such a
document. We think We have COW
cred the principles on which all
agree.
The principles are such as could
be used within the United Nations
or a multilateral convention of ma
tions or for bilateral agreement.
1t is our opinion tnat this draft
expresses:
81. The principle of freedom OF
speech and freedom of the press
that exists in the United States.
20. The principle of freedom of
movement. freedom of observation,
and freedom of transmission OF facts
and ideas.
"3. The principle of world public
opinion as the ultimate source OF
Judgment in controversies between
information media and government.
I'VE have tried to comb all pos
sible sources from which we could
get ideas for presentation to the
State Department in the draft that
is attached to this letter. Warren
H. Pierce, of our staff, in seven
months has consulted personally
some IS leaders of the newspaper,
magazine, radio and motion picture
industries. Printed copies of the
original draft were mailed to more
than 1000 persons. The original
draft was printed in full in Editor
& Publisher. Hundreds of responses
brought suggestions to us.
I'VE are especially indebted to
Quincy Wright, University of Chi
cago authority on International law;
John o. Levinson, a member of the
Chicago bar who specializes in for
eign relations activities, and Fred
erick S. Siebert, head of the jour-
nalism school of the University of
Illinois, all of whom participated in
the drafting and redrafting con-
| ferences.
! During the time that our inquiry