Evening star., 1949-11-20
New Efforts Urged
To Push U. 5. Concept
OF Press Freedom
BY the Assoeioied Press

oy Hfe SsSoCioIed FTeSS
The State Department yester-
day called for renewed efforts
by the United States to convince
Other nations through example
land discussion" of the advantages
Iof complete freedom of the press.
The department released
through it's official Department of
State Bulletin" a survey of debates
in the United Nations on propo-
sails for international agreements
covering freedom of information
and international rights OF news
gathering and transmission.
The survey was undertaken by
Samuel DePalma, adviser in the
State Departments Office OF
United Nations Economic and So
cial Affairs. Debates in the United
Nations. the survey reported, pro-
duced "a number of significant
facts having important implica-
lions for United States informa-
Ition enterprises and for our for
Ieign policy"
Especially significant" Mr.. De-
Palma wrote, lis the fact that our
concept of governmental laissez-
faire toward the information me-
dia does not represent the norm
even among most other acknoWl-
odoed democrat cieS
Points Out Danger.
"The danger is that we, may be
misled by the opposition of the
vast majority of governments to
Soviet proposals restricting. free
dom of information into overlook
ing the lack of general agreement
with our own concept.
Many countries share with us
the conviction that direct govern
mental control over the press is
inimical to freedom of expression
but are nevertheless prepared to
make the press responsible by
law, Accustomed to domestic press
laws, some of which require COM
pulsory correction of various cate
gories of false or harmful reports,
they advocate similar measures at
the international level.
For them governmental inter-
vention is not harmful as such,
and the dangers inherent in such
intervention are not considered so
serious as are the effects of an
irresponsible press"
The article declared that most
Of the smaller nations which are
unable to maintain large news
organizations of their own COM
plain that they are "at the mercy"
of the great news services of the
United States and Britain. Many
are "highly critical of the treat
ment allegedly accorded them by
these agencies" it was said. AS
a result. the article continued,
they are tempted to employ re-
strictive controls on the opera
tions of foreign news services.
80. Can't Ignore Threat,
Governments. or more accu-
rately administrations of the
moment, have from time, imme-
mortal claimed the power to Judge
matters of this nature for their
citizens. and too often the test
has been the interest of the ad-
ministration rather than that OF
the people," the article said
Many of the allegations of mis-
conduct or inadequate perform
ance leveled by some governments
at the free press cannot. there
fore, be taken at face value.
yet, whatever be its true
source, the threat to the tradi-
tional American concept of the
free press cannot be ignored,
especially at time when the to-
talitarian thesis is exerting its
maximum pull. The freedom of
information in the United Nations
has served to verify the issues and
to give a powerful thrust to the
democratic thesis. But the pres
sure on middle states is strong,
and there is a growing tendency
to distruSt both extremes.
''In~ the present titanic struggle
for the minds of entire peoples,
this debate presents a great chal-
lenge to the information enter
prises of the United States and to
our government. The challenge
demands renewed efforts to dem
onstrate the courage of Our demo-
cratic convictions by convincing
others through example and dis
cussion that in the case of free