Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-08-16
Macarthur PressC Code
Puzzles Jap Editors,
Freed Of Censorship
By the Associated Press

TOKYO, Aug. 16.-Japanese edi-
tors have weathered their first
month of relative press freedom
without trouble, but with consider +
able misgivings,
Most of them say they had more
freedom when Gen. MacArthur's
censorship officials took the respon-
sibility for ticklish news decisions.
Since censorship was abolished
for major newspapers July Is, the
japanese editors themselves have
been obliged to determine which
stories violate Gen. MacArthur's
press code Under the previous
system, they simply tossed every
thing into the mill and let Ameri-
can censors do the worrying.
The result of the new system has
been noticeable trend toward con-
servatism in all papers except the
official Communist Party organ
Akahata and its left wing satellites.
Responsible editors prefer to with
hold a doubtful story rather than
risk violating headquarters injunc- |
tons against criticizing the occupa-
ton or publishing inaccurate news.
(These are principal points of Gen.
MacArthurs press code)
One Warning Issued.
Allied officials have given only one
warning since the new system began,
and that was for use of an mac
cugate story. This story apparently
was planted by minor official of
the japanese foreign Office.
After-publication censorship con-
tinues, with headquarters retaining
authority to suspend newspapers or
impose other punishment for press
code attractions.
1--WE don't know what to expect
and we are not sure just what we
should not publish" say leading
Tokyo editors, but we're not taking
any chances"
All metropolitan newspapers E. a
result we're careful in their cover
age of the recent controversy over
Gen. MacArthur's suggestion that
strikes of Government employees be
banned. They reported the resigna-
ton of James S. Killen, chief of the
Allied Headquarters Labor division,
in protest against the ban, but none
carried Mr. Killens statement.
Feared Criticism.
eve thought this would be inter-
preted as criticizing the occupation
and Gen. Macarthur" editors ex-
planned. But the papers did publish
an answering statement from
government section, because it was
released through regular Allied in
formation channels.
The editors also Suppressed threats
by Kazuyoshi Dobashi, head of the
government communications work
ers union, and other labor unions,
that they would strike anyway I'M
less Gen. Macarthur issued a spe-
cific restraining order,
At the same time, the Communist
paper Akahata pounded on this
theme repeatedly, and continually
urged workers to defend what it
called their rights" against mill
tary Fastism" and third party in
reference" No one could mistake
the anti-occupation tone of these
articles. Yet Akahata was not ad-
monished. And Akahata editors
have demonstrated they will con-
tinue their campaign, with perhaps
further anti-American innovations
at least until some one at head
quarters says something.
Clear Definition Sought.
What we need" say the editors
of the major japanese papers. lis
a clear definition of what we can
and cannot print"
Even foreign correspondents can
not guide them. There is no one
agency at headquarters empowered
to say specifically whether any one
story might be violation Of the
broad and generalized press code.
On the other hand, most Japa-
nese editors evidently are still in
the process of learning funda-
mentals of accuracy and balance
Quite obviously they need further
experience before accepting full ~re-
sponsibility for their own news
judgments; for all japanese papers
have been under official restraints
since 1887
Allied press officials say the Japa-
nese papers appear to be doing a
generally good job within the limi-
! tations of their experience. They