Evening star., 1949-03-30
Freedom Of Speech
Seems Not Clearly
Understood by Public
Criticism Of Stote Dept.
For Allowing Reds to Visit
u. S. Is Case in Point
By David Laurence

- 80 SSS W.
By David Laurence
Every now and then the re-
action of the public to some in
cident shows conclusively that,
while freedom of speech and as
sembly is a cherished right in
America. it is not clearly under
stood.
The episode of the Cultural
and Scientific Conference for
World Peace" is a case in point.
Judging by the comments and
particularly the criticism visited
upon the State Department for
allowing a seven-member Russian
group to attend the meeting, many
Americans have not yet accepted
the famous definition uttered by
the late Oliver Wendell Holmes
of the Supreme Court. In one of
his famous opinions. he said that
freedom of speech is really free
dom for the thought we hate"
The State Department admitted
the Russians to this country, but
many Americans thought this was
a mistake. The department de-
clined to admit delegates from
certain of the Iron Curtain
countries, and this. too. has been
called mistake on the theory
that all or none should have been
allowed to participate.
Now it is announced that the
Russian group. who planned to
make a speaking tour of America.
are not to be allowed to make
such a trip.
What consistency. if any, is
there in thc,. curious twistings
and turningS?
The truth is that the American
Government has never adopted a
clear-cut policy on what ought to
be a simple matter to resolve.
Fear of Fifth Column
The United States stands for
freedom of speech and ought not
to be afraid to listen to anybody's
ideas, including those of crack
pots. For years a spirit of tol-
erance toward soapbox orators
has been the pride of America and
Britain.
Now, however, another element
another fear-has crept into the
situation. Hitler taught the world
how to organize a fifth column"
The American Communists and
the British. French and Italian
followers of the party line have
convinced their fellow citizens
that the arguments made are not
those of a particular philosophy
but are in reality words directed
by another government very much
as the fifth column operated be-
fore. and during World War II.
The fact that European Com
munists have publicly stated that,
in case of war. they would not
fight to defend their own coun-
tries but would give aid and COM
fort to enemy troops has made
1t difficult for the average man to
distinguish between a truly dis
interested public meeting. at
which views at variance with
popular. thought are expressed
and palpable efforts to do the
bidding of a foreign government.
Under such circumstances. the
State Department officials are in
q quandary. They hesitate to
take the chances they normally
would in opening doors and meet
ing halls and tours to Communist
speakers from abroad.
The problem will not be ad-
justed until Russia and the United
States come to some agreement
on the entry of speakers, writer's
and delegates to unofficial con-
ferences held by citizens of either
country.
Reciprocal Rights.
If the American Government
were deny entry to any person
from any countries behind the
Iron Curtain unless equal privi-
leges were given to Americans, the
question of what was being writ
ten or spoken by such visitors on
either side would be easier to
handle. There would be more
zeal in defending the right of
anybody to express himself in
free America. Certainly ideas
are not to be feared if they are
exposed to the fresh air of debate
and the counter dissemination OF
other ideas.
So the real question is not free
speech but the reciprocal exercise
of rights by citizens of America
and Russia. The Soviets do not
admit many American correspond
ents. Only a handful are per-
mitted in Russia. The United
States would be justified in limit
ing the number of Russians who
wish entry into the United States.
The other day Gen. Lucius D.
Clay permitted a Russian corre-
spondent to enter the American
zone. This was the first instance
of it's kind since the Berlin block
ade began. The Russian said he
would ask his government to per-
NIT American correspondents to
enter the Soviet zone. 1t is good
beginning and it is to be hoped
Americas initiative will be met by
Russian reciprocity.
Here is a subject far more inn
portant than that which was dis
cussed at the meeting of the Gull
tural and Scientific Conference for
World Peace. There can be no as
surance of world peace as long as
there is an Iron Curtain to block
the entry of correspondents. 1t
wouldn't require any conventions