Evening star., 1951-10-21
Truman Security Order Boomeronqs

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad. THE
controversy over President Truman's
order and insistence upon giving
Government departments and agen-
cies the authority formerly exercised
only by the State and Defense De-
partments) to withhold from the
press and the public such informa-
ton as they may decide might be
a risk to national security, has had
widespread repercussions in Latin
America, as well as in other parts
Of the world.
With tongue In cheek the semi
government newspaper, Democracia,
in Buenos Aires tsaid to be owned
by Sonora Evita Peron, wife of the
Argentine President) taunts us
about what it calls, mfr. Trumans
bureaucratic gag"
The Buenos Aires daily goes on
to say that, "the United States. or
at least some United States officials,
believe that they have a right to
judge the degree of freedom of
the press enjoyed by newspapers
throughout the world. Now we shall
see how they react to the new type
of censorship invented by their own
President"
A Santiago radio broadcast points
out that. "Democracia was apparent
ly referring to United States crit!-
cism of the Argentine decision to
appropriate the liberal independent
daily. La Prensa of Buenos Aires,
which opposed the Peronista re-
gime." mfr. Truman's order" the
Santiago broadcast continues, "has
its counterpart in Argentina, where
all news from government sources
is given to the press through the
presidential press Office"
Right Boek in Our Teeth
The pending trial of the pub
Usher. the editor and several news
men Of the American Press. a daily
OF Lake Charles. La, accused of what
the local grand jury called "defam-
ing the character" of the county
sheriff and three known gamblers,
had been headlined from Cuba to
Chile. Now official newspapers and
spokesmen for several of the gov
ernments of dictator countries which
we have been condemning severely
for their strong armed attacks on
the press, and especially their abu-
slve treatment of foreign corre-
spondents, are f1inging our words
back in our teeth.
Not only the Peronistas of Argen-
tina. but spokesmen for Gen. Rafael
Leonidas Trujillo of the Dominican
Republic, as well as the Communist
controlled legislators of Guatemala,
who have smarted under lashings
from the press and public in this
country, for their distortion and sup
preston OF news and information,
are out digging up other evidence of
what they term restrictions on free
dom of speech under the American
flag.
AS one of Gen. Trujillos diplo-
matte henchmen retorts, why
doesn't the United States press.
along with those Washington Off
Gals who are so concerned about the
~tSAAoA Va 4ACC0OAI 11I OGlICI >,
look closer into the well-known gag
law in force in Puerto Rico?"
Puerto Ricon Public Low
= The Dominican was referring to
law No. So. approved by the Puerto
Rican Legislature on June 10, 1948,
under Gov. Pincro. This act provides
maximum penalty of 10 years inn
priSonment or a fine of $4,000, or
both, for conviction of the felony
of promoting. advocating, advising
or preaching willfully or knowingly.
the necessity, desirability or expedi-
ency of overthrowing, paralyzing or
subyerting the insular government, or
any political subdivision thereof, by
means of force or violence"
The law also provides the same
punishment for any one who may
print, publish. edit, circulate. sell,
distribute or publicly exhibit, with
the intent of overthrowing. paralyz-
ing or subverting the ir1llar gov
ernment or any political kbdivision