Evening star., 1948-01-04

to be news correspondents covering
controversy.
A series of conferences during
some differences Of opinion within
ment on q policy aimed at:
!. Facilitating in every possible
way consistent with OUR immigra-
tion laws the work Of legitimate
foreign correspondents, regardless
Of their political complexion OF
where they come from.
2. Discouraging the United Ma
tions from giving press credentials
to persons who claim to be news
correspondents but who don't ac-
tually give their chief attention to
news reporting.
3. Firmly upholding the right OF
the United States to keep out OF
the country an alien considered
dangerous to national security, and
to put drastic limitations on the
non-U. N. activities Of aliens COM
ing in under U. N. sponsorship who
otherwise would be banned under
our immigration laws.
The situation boiled up last
month when Justice Department
agents picked up for investigation
and possible deportation two alleged
Communists-Nicolas Kyriazides, a
Greek and syed sibtay Hasan, an
Indian.
Credentials Produced
Both men produced United Ma
lions credentials IS correspondents
for newspapers In their home eoun-
tries. Trygve Lie, q. N. Secretary
General, protested publicly against
the United States action. He said
II violated an agreement providing
that no deportation proceedings
could be started against q u. NJ
accredited correspondent without
first consulting him. The State
Department snapped back that the
same agreement provided that the
q. N. would consult it before issuing
press credentials to aliens, and that
1t had not been consulted in these
cases.
A sharply worded Christmas eve
statement, okayed by Acting Secre-
tary Of State Lovett, wound up by
proposing that State Department
delegation meet with U. N. omcials
to recommend a drastic revision
Of the q. N. system Of accreditation
Of alien journalists"
A more automatically worded, but
still firm, note was sent Mr.. Lie lest
week urging that such a meeting be
held at the earliest opportunity.
Proposals which State Depart
ment representatives are prepared
to take into the conference with
U. N. oficials stress arrangements
to keep the department Informed
about applications by aliens for U. N
press credentials.
They also emphasize the view that
o. M-sponsored press representa-
tives" should not include visitors
whose news work Is merely Incl
dental to other activities.
Row in Department
Before the State Department pol
10y on the matter was clearly estab-
lished there was some crossing OF
wires between the departments Visa
Division on one hand and its U. N
Liaison Once and legal adviser on
the other. Carrying the ball ir
Strengthening out the incipient
wrangle within the department was
Reginald p. Mitchell, a career off,
Ger in the press relations section.
An official ban against "phony'
correspondents is in line with tradi-
tions Of the American press. The
press galleries Of Congress have g
long-standing rule against admis-
sion of persons whose chief at
tention is not given to newspaper
correspondence or to newspaper as
sociations requiring telegraphit
service" They also ban any one
"engaged In the prosecution oi
claims pending before Congress.
The radio and periodical galleries
of Congress have similar rules tt
preserve their privileges for bons
fide reporters in those fields:
Enforcement Of rules along these
lines by the United Nations woule
deny its press privileges to person!
who might attempt to use U. N
press accreditation merely as 9
cloak to carry on propaganda &C.
tivities or to evade immigration re-
strictions.
Officials concerned with enforc.
ing the immigration laws and al
the same time avoiding controversy
with u. N. stress the need for such
arrangements, especially because
of some exceptions made in imni.
grafton restrictions for U. Mac.
credited aliens.
Congress was careful to preserve
this Governments essential rights
regarding the control OF alien en-.
tries when it approved the agree
ment granting special privileges te
the United Nations for the worlc
organizations headquarters in this
country. But administration of the
immigration laws, with the excep-
tions made for U. N, is a highly
technical matter.
Pertinent provisions include sec.
tions II and IS Of the U. N. head.
quarters agreement, signed by Sec.
retary OF State Marshall and Mr.
Lie last June 26, and section oi
the congressional joint resolution
approving it, signed into law by
President Truman on August 4.
Consultation Required
Section II of the headquarters
agreement provides that United