Evening star., 1952-03-13

wise Baseball League
whereupon the commanding offi-l
Ger demanded that his nine be
known simply as another team"
The officers idea, no doubt, was
to conceal knowledge that the
radar station existed. The news
papers position was that this
hardly could be concealed because
the stations antenna was easily
visible to anybody in the area.
Navy Stresses Truth.
The Navy conceded recently that
"too often newspapers are met
with evasiveness, double talk or
outright refusal to cooperate"
It sent a public relations news
letter to responsible officers re-
minding them that "the Navy be-
longs to the public" and urged
them to give, whenever possible,
frank, honest answers to ques-
tions from newspapers and wire
services"
The letter declared truth is the
best policy "even when the truth
hurts"
The Air Force changed its reg
ulations on photographing air
crashes this month after
campaign waged by James S.
Pope, chairman of the American
Society Of Newspaper Editors
freedom of information committee.
Civil Authority Ignored.
Mr.. Pope was aroused by in
cidents Of Air Force police pro-
hibiting news photographers
sometimes by physical measures
from taking pictures Of crashed
planes on non-military property.
He argued Air Force regulations
ignored civil authority and gave
the military fancied right to
declare martial law on civilian
territory. He contended this right
could be granted only by civilian
authorities.
The Air Force no longer "pro-
hibitS" the taking of pictures out
side military reservations.
But if a photographer takes
pictures of secret equipment and
refuses to surrender them, he will
be warned that under Federal law
ne can be fined $4,000 and i'm
prisoned for 10 years. If he still
refuses, the FBI will be called in.
May Give Consent.
When no secret equipment is
exposed to view consent will be
given for the taking of photo
graphs by civilian photographers"
under the new regulations.
Mr.. Pope contended the old
regulations purported to give au-
thority to military men to "for-
bid" photographs even when no
secret items were involved.
He stressed that mo newspaper
wants to risk preaching military
security" but that neither did they
wish to see the military encroach
upon civilian authority in the
guiSe of security considerations
where none existed.
Mr.. Pope had become aroused
on the subject when Air Force
police seized film from photogra-
piers camera at Minnesota
crash scene.
Declaring no security was in-I
volved, he threatened a damage
suit.
Rebuke by President.
He made similar complaints
when Air Force police "outra-
geously and with physical force"
interfered with coverage OF al
crash near Portland, Oreg.. and
when they "roughed up" photog-
raphers at Honolulu covering Gen.
Douglas MacArthur's return from
Japan.
An example of how officials and
the press differ on what consti-
tutes security cropped up at one
of President Truman's recent press
conferences.
A reporter wanted to know why
maps showing atomic installations
were hung on airport bulletin
boards.
The President rebuked the re-
porter. He said such questions
only attracted attention to the
maps.
The maps are intended to guide
pilots so they won't fly over such
installations.
Was security jeopardized in
hanging the maps on bulletin
boards in the first place, or in ask
ing how come?
II depends on the point of view