Evening star., 1953-07-16
johnson Directive Explains
Details of New Books Policy
By Gornett D. Homer

W SOIuSNN ~ tbObuSI
The United States Govern
ment'S nearly 200 libraries over
seas were operating today under
a new directive aimed at apply
ing common sense and the
American principles of freedom"
to their nti-Communist pro-
gram.
DR.. Robert L. johnson, retir-
ing head Of the State Depart
ment's International Informa-
tion Administration, set a prece-
dent by making the directive
public yesterday as soon as it
was cabled to the library off,
GERS abroad.
Along with the directive. he
released a 50-page report on past
operations of the program.
streSsing its anti Communist ma
ture.
For, the first time, the report
listed officially all the books and
authors banned under a confus-
ing series of previous directiveS
during the past few months
which had given rise to charges
of book burning" 1t told how
some of the banned books are
being restored.
Secrecy Criticized.
The ia recently has come in
for some criticism for classify
ing many details of the book
program as secret-action which
President Eisenhower said last
week was not in accord with his
views.
DR.. johnson said he had been
reluctant to make public some
details because he was anxious
to avoid any impression that
"our primary purpose was propa-
ganda rather than information. !"
But in view of some of the
charges implying that we were
somehow soft on the Commu-
mist question" he said, "it now
becomes necessary to tell the
full story"
The new directive puts into
effect a policy statement issued
by DR.. johnson last week which
welcomed controversial" books
as distinct from those advocat-
ing conspiracy, and removed pre-
vious fiat bans against books by
Communists or Red sympathiz-
ers.
Reds Works Blacklisted.
Works of avowed Communists,
persons who refused to testify
before congressional committees
regarding alleged Communist
connections and persons con-
victed of crimes involving a
threat to the security of the
United States still are condi-
tionally blacklisted under the
new directive.
But it provides that they can
be purchased for the overseas Ii
braries whenever "it is deter
mined that a particular item is
clearly useful for the special
purposes of the program"
Sharp distinction is made be-
tween standards for buying new
books and for removing those
already on the library shelves.
No more books will be re-
moved except on specific orders
from Washington. officials made
clear that some books by pro-
Communists which would nat be
bought under the new policy
would not be removed from the
shelves if already there because
the removal action itself might
be more detrimental to Amer
tcan interests than keeping the
book there.
Quality is Specified.
The directive specifies that
"no materials shall be selected
which, as judged by their con-
tent, advocate destruction of
free institutions, promote or re-
inforce Communist propaganda,
or are of inferior literary quail
ity. as evidenced by salacious,
pornographic. sensational, cheap
or shoddy treatment. or matter
Inherently offensive"
On the positive side. the direc-
tive stipulates that materials
shall be selected with specific
references to these three primary
purposes:
l. Providing useful informa-
ton about the United States, its
people, culture, institutions, poll
cieS. problems, achievements,
and diverse views on national
and international issues.
2. Demonstrating American in
terestS in other nations.
3. Furnishing evidence of the
American intellectual, artistic
and spiritual heritage.
Book burning will not be