Arizona sun., 1950-03-31
ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

Happenings That Affect the Future of Every Individual
National and International Problems lnseparable
From Local Welfare
Of late, there has been noticeable change in Mr..
Trumans relations with the press In the words of Mar
quis Chlds He has to believe that the press is
obtrusive unfair irresponsible and even, at times, in
suting"
of President Trumans periodic press conferences The
Importance of these conferences very greathey
attended of the services the radio
networks the coumns and correspondents Of the great
daies which maintain bureaus in the capital They
result the cOurce OF practically all information
cernng the government which reaches the public aside
from occasional speeches and statements by hghlevel
officials and routine departmental handouts.
Matters came to something OF head recently when
Mr. Truman gave exclusive interview to Arthur Krock,
chief of the Washington bureau of the New York Times
This violated an unwrten but longestabished custom
which holds that the President will not give to
anyone, but will make what he has to say available to all
accredited correspondents When quered about this at
the next conference Mr. Truman replied that he
free agent and that he would say whatever he
pleased anybody he pleased and would not be censored
their business important The President replied to the
effect that sometimes he wasn't sure of that. The
StuatlOn definitely acrimonious and the Hlteehng
on both sides evident.
This might seem like unimportant little business,
which will blow were it not for one further
matter Many seasoned newspapeman, including some
who generally in sympathy with present Administra
including Mr. Acheson, the Secretary of Statear not
giving the nation as much information as to what is going
is scarcely even the rudmentary information on which
others might base policy of leadership. The Admins
as
withheld punishment given favor. There is an
atmosphere of more hostile enforcement between
press and government in this time of tragic drift.
i In the column, dated February Fl, Mr.. ChlldS
sad Historians the future may well assign to the days
between November (when the public first told OF
Hbomb pans and the present the date OF the failure OF
America in the leadership of the western world"
i Thus, the difficulties between Mr.. Truman and the
press and the alleged refusal of Mr. Truman to be frank
in giving out news mesh in another with the
massive problems of world peace of the solidy and
security of the West and of the terrible prospect of
other Unpleasant the fact may be, there is feel
ing of depression and hopelesness in many quarters The
progress that the Soviet Union has made in its grand plan
of world expansion greater in all probability than is
generally believed understood. And it certainly can
be strongly argued that the Administration has done
relatively little to cast light into dark places.
It may be that Mr. Truman was stung by the consider
able of press criticism that greeted his apparent
dsncination to call another Big Three meetngan idea
which advocated by Winston Churchill shortly before
the British elections. The President said that the door
always anyone wanted to him. and he went
further That attitude is understandable in the light
ments-and particularly agreements of general nature
which be twisted out of all sembance OF reason Dy
cynical interpretations That consideration also seems
to be guiding the policies of Mr. Acheson Even many
of the best and most thoughtful pubcs in the country
feel that the situation is grave and the possDles are
have a remote chance of producing modcum OF
constructive result.
any event. it scarcely be doubted that Western
leadership far the public see, has been IN
leffectual in many important phases. The debacle IN
China whether could have been prevented or not the
goes beyond the event tsefoher nations wondering
uneasy if the Western mean to talk much and do
little. No wants to join in with loser.
i That is the significance of he tragic drift of which