Arizona sun., 1949-02-25

BAUKHAGE ton, there is some
satisfaction in not
ing that the experiment paid,
from the standpoint of all con-
cerned including the peoples of the
countries involved. On the average
the United States puts out one dol
ar for each three dollars spent
by the other countries. In 1943
Latin American countries were ex-
pending $50O,000. In 1948 they in
vested $1,178,00O.
The countries in which the
stations are located, an official
of the department explained,
supplies Gland, buildings, assO-
ciate technicians, office and
service personnel, equipment
and supplies available within
the country, and funds for OPP
Grating expenses" The United
States supplies the ''knOw-how''
and the specialized equipment
necessary.
The plan pays out. the depart
ment explains, this way. Assistance
in raising crops such as cocoa, cof-
fee, certain fibres, medical plants,
tea and rubber, has increased the
revenue from them. They are prod
ucts in demand in this country,
we don't or can't raise. The dol
lars they earn are turned into
many manufactured produc S
which these countries purchase
from us.
In the last special report issued
by the American military govern
ment on the Licensed Press of Ger
many, we have an example of an
other type of experience which the
United States has had in attempt
ing to provide the ''know-how' for
q foreign nation.
Some of the seeds which
have been planted and which
it is hoped will grow, thanks
to the application of American
techniques, are those which
should produce a free and
democratic press in Germany.
It would be somewhat rash to
try to teach the Germans all about
the publishing business. After all
Gutenberg, who invented printing,
was a German, and ever since his
time the Germans have taken the
lead in many of the mechanical
processes connected with the pub
fishing business. But when the
American occupation forces moved
in, there was nothing that resem-
bled a free press in Germany, and
if there had been it hardly could
have flourished under the condi-
tions which then existed. Even to-
day the best we can expect is a
nearly free press" and that is
what it admittedly is.
In the United States zone and in
Berlin there are now Sc news
papers licensed by the United
States. These papers own cooper
atively operated news ag n cy.
These publications are not, a n d
never have been, ''pre-cenSored. "
They are carefully read by the
military government officials, and
some have been suspended, after
warning. But these occasions have
been few.
The mission of the military gov
ernment in the field of the press,
as planned and applied to date, has
for its first point:
"TO help democratically-
minded and trustworthy Ger
man publishers and editors to
build an objective, free, demo
cratic press in the u. S. Zone
in Germany and to prevent the
resurgence of Nazism, militar-
ism, racism, pan-Germanism,
or natiOnaliSm in the news
paper and news agency field"
The special report explains that
controls which were imposed when
the papers were first established
in order to conserve scarce mater
ials, supplies, and equipment and
in order to train editors, publishers,
and journalists in the tradition of
democratic, free press have been
progressively lifted SO that for two
years at least the U. S. zone has
had a nearly" free press. The
eventual goal has been from the
start an absolutely free press to the
extent that this condition obtains