The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1953-07-03

ablest Republican spokesman for a
return to American first principles in
our foreign policy and their clear as
sertion before the world. Here, on the
issue of book burning, was surely an
opportunity not only to assert such
principles, but to give them effect in
the library policy of the USIS.
This chance was muffed. When Eli
senhower returned to the issue in his
press conference, he further confused
it by condemning censorship and sub
versive literature at one and the same
time; and he finally fell back ON the
old French adage, "All generaliza-
lions are false, including this one"
Mr.. Dulles, eagerly awaiting the re-
organization which will end the State
Departments direct responsibility for
USIS, gave him no help. At this writ
ing the book-purge policy has been
neither defended nor clarified The
Presidents words to the graduates
of Dartmouth still lack their approp-
riate deed.
One must sympathize with the diff
ficulty of the USIS book-selection
problem. 1t is silly, as the President
said, to spend taxpayers money fill
ing Libraries abroad with propaganda
against the U. S. Perhaps the original
solicitors oversupplied the USIS IL
braries with such books, though
there has been little or no responsible
evidence to that effect. In any case
it is even sillier to retreat from a
supposed mistake by showing fear of
any book whatsoever.
In the current. purge some embassy
frightened by a foolish di-
receive about controversial books,
have evidently removed such volumes
as Bert Andrews Washington Witch
Hunt, the Lynds' sociological treatises
on Middletown, the mystery stories
of party-liner Dashiell Hammett and
books by practically anybody who
was wrong on China. If the shadow |
of Mccarthy has cooled so many feet
and frozen so many brains in the low
er echelons of the State Department.,
mere surely is one case where the
shadow could be quickly dispelled by
, clear statement of policy.
AS originally set up these Libraries
we're designed to show a fair cross
section OF American literature, not
o serve as American propaganda in
my narrower sense. This policy was
confirmed this month by the Hicken-
ooper subcommittee investigating u.
). overseas information, whose thor
ugh report was unanimously signed
" the chairman and seven other SEN
.Cors. 1t recommends that the library
'rogram be enlarged, not diminished;
md its only qualification to the
cross section" formula is the reason
bic one that writings of Commu-
lists or Communist sympathizers
hould not be tolerated in any man
er which would indicate their ac-
eptance by the American people,
hat is, label or segregate such
ooks; but do not hide them. AS form
r Assistant Secretary of State Bar
EFT describes the original policy, "it
not consistent with the dignity of
ne United States Government to use
Impression, mendacity or guile in it's
brary system" Why were not the
resident or MIR. Dulles ready last
eek with an equally clear statement 7
policy?
The USIS budget is now going into
congressional committee. If the poll
es the USIS stands for are not
asily recognized as traditional Amer 7
an policies, it will be very tempting
,r Congress to slash this budget be-
0nd recognition. The morale of State =
apartment employees is also at low :
ob. The Secretary could raise it at =
ice, and also increase American
restige abroad, with statement and =
receive of policy reflecting his own !,
ell-known confidence in freedom of :,
'eech and opinion. Emphasis ours =
pMEPC CIJT CTEEr