Evening star., 1951-07-01
World Survey Shows Free News
Hit by Censorship, Suppression
By the Associoied Press

By the Associated Press
Censorship and its kinSman,
suppression, have struck heavy
blows against the free flow OF
news in 1851.
The Associated Press has just
completed its semiannual world
survey of censorship and other
conditions that are barriers to
the coverage of news in the free
dom known in the United States.
For the first time an American
correspondent was jailed in Iron
Curtain Europe, and the flow of
news from CZechoSlovakia mar
rowed to a trickle. William N.
Oats, who headed the Associated
Press Bureau in Prague, was or
dered to trial-charged with &C
tivities hostile to the Communist
government At the end of June
there were no American corre-
spondentS left in Prague.
The last six months saw the
death of one of the worlds great
newspapers-La Prensa of Buenos
Aires. It's properties were ordered
conf1scated by the congress, DOM
mated by supporters of President
Juan D. Peron. Other newspapers
outside the capital have been
closed for violating the law which
fixes penalties for any one found
guilty of making disrespectful
statements about the government
or its officials.
Freedom in Panama.
The overthrow of the regime of
President Arnulfo Arias in Pan
anna has brought freedom for
newspapermen there.
In general, the Western democ-
racies have placed no bars on free
dom of information. In the Com
munist countries the pattern of a
rigidly controlled press and iron
censorship is unchanged.
In some countries where inde-
pendence is a new experience
such as Burma and India-the
press has suffered. India has
adopted a constitutional amend
ment limiting free speech.
Details of Survey.
In detail, here is what the latest
AG survey showed:
Russia maintains its strict CEN
sorship over outgoing news. The
few Western correspondents in
Moscow must submit their copy to
censors.
Romania, Bulgaria, and Albania
are virtually sealed off from the
Western world. Little direct news
comes from them, except via gov
ernment-approved radio broad
casts. Hungary has expelled West
ern correspondents. All the Soviet
satellites have a controlled press.
Western Germany-There is no
censorship on foreign correspond
ents or local press. The allied
high commission and West Ger
man authorities from time to
time have banned Communist
newspapers for carrying anti-West
editorial campaigns.
Eastern Germany-The rigid
Communist pattern of strict con-
troll over the press is maintained
by the Soviet Control Commits
sion. Only Communist can be
foreign correspondents.
Newsprint Shortage Gains.
Denmark-There is no censor
ship but the acute shortage of
neWSprint threatens the existence
Of a free press. Four Danish
dailies have been put out of busi-
ness because they could not meet
increasing costs.
France - No censorship The
government-oWned posts, tele-
phone and telegraph reserves the
right to monitor and censor dis
patches. Some political censor
ship prevails in French Morocco,
Tunisia and the Island of Mar
Unique.
Red China-Rigid Communist
control exists over all publications.
Occasionally foreign correspond
ent from one of he countries which
recognize Peiping gets into the
Red capital. Only rarely does
this produce anything. Chinese
papers in Hong Kong have re-
porters in South China despite the
fact about a dozen have been
discovered and shot.
Formosa-No censorship, but
there are restraints. If a corre-
spondent can get the news he can
write it and send it.
South Korea-Martial law pre-
walls and all newspapers are
censored.
War Copy Censored.
Japan-All Korean war COPY. is
censored by general headquarters
censorS in Korea and transmitted
by army teletype or telephone by
the army press advisory division
to Tokyo for transmission abroad
by news agencies and newspapers.
War copy originating in Japan is
censored by CHG censors in
Tokyo. Taas correspondents are
accredited to CHG through their
Tokyo mission. but none has been
permitted in South Korea and
none file through censorship.
japanese newspaper editors ap-
ply rigid self censorship on
@ anM -