Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-07-28
Ernest K. LindIey
Defends His Work
For British Radio

LA AOot IA AAA1u1CJs GIllC1 VI
Newsweek magazines Washington
bureau, said today he regarded
his broadcasts for the British
Broadcasting Co. as an opportu-
nifty ito explain American policies
and viewpoints to the British
people"
Financial statements filed by
the BBC's North American Office
with the Justice Department I'M
der the Foreign Agents Registra-
tior: Act showed that Mr.. Lindley
and a number of other CORE
spondentS and commentators were
paid a nominal sum during 1850
for their broadcasts. The broad
casts were an American Com
mentary" on a weekly BIC.
In addition to Mr.. Lindley, pay
ments were listed to Joseph Harsch
of the Christian Science Monitors
Washington Bureau, who also has
been a CHS broadcaSter; Stewart
Alsop. Washington columnist and
writer: Clifton M. Utley of the
Chicago Office of NBC, and Law
renee Larry Leseur of CHS, New
York.
Paid 500 Per Broadcast.
The report showed that the
were paid 500 for
each broadcast of 1914 minutes.
Mr.. Harsch and Mr.. Alsop were
not available at their Washing
ton offices and homes for COM
ments on published reports about
their participation in the series of
Ibroadcasts. ....
II regard it primarily as an
opportunity to reach an important
audience, and to interpret Ameri-
can opinion, especially on those
matters of international import
ance where there is a difference of
views" Mr.. Lindley said.
One of his broadcasts, Mr..
Lindley pointed out. was on the
subject of Formosa and why the
United States was determined
that the island stronghold of the
Chinese Nationalist would not be
permitted to fall into Communist
hands. In the same broadcast.
Mr.. Lindley said, he also under
took to interpret why the United
States would not recognize the
Peiping Communist regime as the
British have done.
Wrote Own Scripts.
Mr.. Lindley also raped pub
lished suggestions that he served
a propaganda purpose. He said
he always had been given a free
choice of topics. had written his
own scripts and that they were
never edited. He added that he
assumed one Of the reasons the
'RC paid only nominal honor
arium" of 500 for such broad
casts was that the company was
trying to avoid any suggestion or
possible charge of sucn intentions.
A copy of a 1949 speech by Sam
Slate, BBC's program director in
New York, explained the purpose
of having American commentators
and correspondents give a weekly
commentary on the program
broadcast in the British Isles.
'The job of explaining America
to Britain" he said, "is done in
a number of ways. The Oldest
'Eastbound' program is American
Commentary
This is a weekly news review
on the United States by an
American.
British Views Cited.
1.-THE BIC feels that the job of
explaining a foreign country can
best be done by a national of that
country. This is in contrast to the
American plan of having an
American abroad to report and
comment on the countries in which
they are stationed. 1t apparently
works very well for the British
listener and I can assure you it
| is certainly welcomed by Ameri-
cans living in Britain"
Mr.. Slate said the series original
lily was started by Raymond
Graham Swing, who was followed
by Elmer Davis and Alastai1
Cooke. The latter is American
correspondent of the Manchester
Guardian, with offices in New
York.
| Earlier this week Congress was
told that five radio commentators
had received nominal payments
from the State Departments
Voice of America funds. These
were Charles Collingwood, VIII
liam Downs, Griffing Bancroft and
Eric SEVERED of CHS and Ben
Grauer.
E.rr, Dv;ene Norlinn