Evening star., 1949-06-05

heavy upon the press anc aEssa'
persons or oggAnsEatacgas that make
newa Tha; amounts 70 . esrsrs~
ship as the source. 10 . stcppAss
IN the Gov Of iafognaiion-
Considerable restraint assets TIE
news flowing from about . fourth
Of the world . populated area That
nguEe may seem ANAL but the
effects Of censorship are - far
reaching that they leave the wcrid
IN doubt and suspicion.
Associated Press correspondents
throughout the world have com
ple,ed another Of the Associated
Press periodic surveys Of censor
ship conditions. The survey shows
no major barriers have come cosn
in the six months since the las;
Associated Press roundup Of tns
situation, In fact. new barriers
have been erected-for example
In China. torn by eivil war.
The main exponent Of censor.
ship remains the Soviet Union
Censorship there Is especially i'm
portant because II helps hide from
the rest Of the world the conci-
tons that exist In one Of the two
most powerful countries,
Following are high lights from
the Associated Press survey. show.
Ing conditions in various countries
where restrictions exist or have
existed In the past:
Central Europe
FRANcE-Despite reimposition
Of Q 1899 law forbiddlns puoliea-
ton Of military secrets. reported
In the previous Associated Press
censorship survey last fall. there
have been no curbs on newkmen
In continental France Core
spondents for . time were greatly
concerned over reimposition OF the
law. but are no longer worried.
GERMANY -- Military govern
ment In Western Germany Ions
ago abolished prepuhlication CEN
sorship. substituting postpublica-
ton scrutiny. Under this system
violations OF security and rules
forhiddine arbitrary criticism OF
the occupying powers are punished
by fines or temporary suspensions
OF the German newspapers tn
volved. after warnings fail. Dras-
tic steps are seldom necessary.
The Russians also claim 10 have
abandoned prepublieation censor
ship In their occupation zone. but
their ofyicers are known TO keep
close tab on oil Russian licensed
newspapers. Papers In Eastern
Germany are generally restricted
70 using Tass. oflieial Soviet news
agency. and Adm. the Russian.
controlled German agency.
SoaNtHh AGW5&asEh aatFN AGN6k
the Western zones at will. but they
can enter the Russian some only
by special authorization. There
Is little restriction on foreign news
agencies distributing news In the
Western areas.
AUGTHIA--Foreign newkmen
and news agencies operate freely
In the Western occupied areas.
Foreign correspondents must send
out dispatches on telegraph tines
which run through the. Russian
occupation sone. Thus Tar there
has been no interference on this
score.
0REECE-The government. stiIi
fightins the Communist g,ierriliaa,
last January invoked censorship
on all stories OF military activities
published In Greek newspapers.
Outgoing mail Ia subject 10 cen
sorship. There are no other re-
strictions on foreign correspond
ents. However. their copy. when
Of Q military nature. cannot be
distributed In Greece unless it has
been approved.
PAlN-opanish newsparemen
under tho Franco government are
among the most regirnented I'm
Europe. Only q few precivii war
Journalists stifl function In the
country. The younger crop Of re-
portsrs has taken compulsory
courses. They apparently DO not
understand press freedom. a.
known In the United States. and
show little interest In it. A. o re-
suit Of their indoctrinatscn. they
really believe they are like eiyli
servants. who take orders from the
government.
Foreign correspondents we're
freed Of censorship In iets. but
are attli held responsible for any
false news" they may send out
regarding Spain. Since io4s three
correspondents --- two American
ana cne French--have had their
press cards revoked.
copies Of everything nied by
foreign correspondents over cable
or radio are sent almost tsnrne-
diateiy 10 the senerai directorate
Of the press propaganda and the
foreisn ministry. Dispatches trans
mitted By telephone are not cen-
aored.
The sovernins ralanse Party
through its indirect control Of
the press directorate. wseids q
powerful influence IN the issuance
Of nswspTint 70 epaniah papers.
PORTUGAL $500 The domesssc
press 10 % much under the thumb
Of The salAsar regime that presx
freedom In the Western sense
cannot Be said 10 exist. Oppoa-
ton b not permitted sxceps nj
stAted ttmss. vfsn the govern
menf may allow . show Of It.
Behind Iron Curtain
SOVIET uNIoN--Aii cutxcang
news copy must be Submitted 10
tha government. In censor sesa-
erA1sy 6eietes anyshtns unsesoF-
ahie 70 the ooviet Union. unless
n. 4.