Evening star., 1949-12-13
Libraries, Big Colleges
Here Put No Ban on
Soviet Magazines
BY Colt HendIey, Jr.

By Colt HendIey, Jr.
Although the Soviet 1nforma-
ton Bulletin is not available In
public schools, the libraries and
major universities here are putting
no ban into effect on the maga-
zine.
A check today revealed that
the magazine, published twice a
month by the Russian Embassy.
is received by the five major uni
versities in the Washington area.
Copies also are received by the
District Central Library and four
of it's larger branches where it is
ION call" but not on display.
Meanwhile, the controversy on
the Board of Education about
School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing's action in banning the Soviet
magazine, without mentioning 1t
to board members, apparently has
simmered down. pending the next
scheduled meeting on December
81. 4
c. Melvin Sharpe. board presi-
dent, said he had no further COM
ment to make, following his de-
mand that DR.. Corning make
report on his action to the board.
The School Board has split into
two camps on the question. Three
members expressed the opinion
that DR.. Corning was correct IN
that the rules required him to
allow no publication in the schools
not on the board-approved list.
The six other members took the
stand that DR.. Corning at least
should have informed the board
30 they would not have to learn
about it in the newspapers.
The Russian propaganda maga-
zine is on sale on at least one
newsstand in Washington. 1t is
sold by the Russian Embassy at
subscription rates of $2.40 year
and apparently sent free to many
newspaper correspondents schools
and other institutions unsolicited.
The Embassy consistently has re-
fused to give information on circu-
lation.
On University Shelves.
George Washington University
reported the magazine is received
regularly and is placed on a maga-
zine shelf with similar material re-
ceived from other countries. 1t
is discarded when no longer cur
rent.
The same situation prevails at
Catholic University. |
Georgetown University reported
that material of the propaganda
type is placed in the library but
only is at the disposal OF profes-
sors doing research or students
doing research at the direction OF
professors. Copies of the Soviet
publication could not be found
in the library today but it was
assumed that it has been there
from time to time. In any case,
there is no ban under the condi-
tions outlined.
The University Of Maryland
keeps the magazine in file where
it is available ION call" for those
interested in studying propaganda
publications. II
American University ''puts 1t
out for what it is worth" on the
theory 1t will not poison anyone.
It is thrown out when the issues
on hand are no longer current.
The opinion among university
officials here was that college
students are mature enough to
handle such publications and
pointed out that academic free
dom demanded that no bans be
placed. !
All the universities, as well as
the public library, pointed out
that great masses Of material are
received from many sources, much
of it from other countries.
The Russian Embassy is not
the only. embassy in Washington
putting out publications.
The Justice Department said
that among the other embassies
actually publishing literature were
Spain, Argentine, Rumania, Hun
gary. Venezuela and Czechoslo-
vakia. A spokesman said that
publication of such literature by
an embassy is recognized as COM
ing within the range of "ambas-
sadoral functions"
Registration Not Required.
Accordingly, an embassy is not
required to register with the JUS
tice Department If it publishes
magazines or other literature, the
Justice Department spokesman
said.
However, most countries main
tain information services and pub
lish great masses of information,
he added. Such information
services. as the British Informa-
ton Service. are registered with
the Justice Department. Their