Evening star., 1955-06-21
BY L. EDGAR PRINA


r. Karl Honaman. the De-
fense Departments guardian OF
unclassitied strategic informa-
ton, feels he has been the target
of "unwarranted" criticism by
some newspaper editors.
In an interview, the Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Public
Affairs said it was one thing for
these editors to guard the
bridges" of freedom of informa-
ton. but, he declared, 1t is quite
another to challenge his motives
in trying to stop valuable data
from getting to the enemy.
He emphasized, however. that
he thought most persons in the
news business had a sympathetic
understanding of his job and its
difficulty. He said he recognized
that cooperation of newspapers
and other media was absolutely
essential to turn In his work.
Mr.. Honaman was recently
brought to Defense from the
Commerce Department where he
headed the Office of Strategic
Information. His principal duty
has been to tighten the release
of technical military informa- =
ton of value to the Soviet Union.
Under Fire From Press
He has been under continual
fire from news media represent
atives. Last week he was criti-
Cized for asserting that news to
be released should meet the
tests of usefulness" of being
valuable and interesting"
Mr.. Honoman denied sugges-
tions that he wanted to be a
censor. He reiterated what he
told the American Society of
Newspaper Editors recently:
1--WE can't keep ahead just by
keeping secret what we know.
Any attempt to block off the
flow of all ideas which would help
a hostile power would do US more
harm than good"
He pointed out that the greater
part of his job is in facilitating
the flow of information.
For every hour we worry
about what perhaps should not
be put out, we spend 100 trying
to help people get the infor-
nation they want" he said.
Balanced Judgment"
Mr.. Honoman sees the job OF
Government information officials
as that of reaching a balanced
judgment-one that weighs the
risk of aiding an enemy against
the need to keep the American
people informed. He said he is
not against taking such risks.
He defined strategic informa-
tion as unclassified data that
would ''help the enemy improve
his military potential but which
is not of sufficient value, at the
time, to release 1t to our own
people"
Asked who decides whether II
is of sufficient value" MIR. Homo
man replied: 1--WE get a combina-
ton of judgments. We talk tc
our r and D (Research and De-
velopment) people and our op-
Grating military people"
Only yesterday Mr.. Honaman
was mentioned in connection
with a new form being tried out
by the Army as a guide" to It's
information officers.
Called a Balance Sheet for
Strategic Information" the form
lists five items which are to be
checked as to whether they are
helpful" or harmful" to the
United States. After they are
checked. the evaluator then
makes a judgment as to the
met effect" Of the dissemination
of the data being considered.
Standards Used
The items to be checked are:
met effect on military power;
net effect on industrial power;
effect on moral; other strategic
angles and other considerations
(anything you can think off,"
Mr.. Honaman scoffed at the
to-do being made Of the form,
and played down Its significance.
He said 1t was purely expert
mental" and that 1t was being