Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-22

to Know"
The twin sources of danger
Mr.. Cooper wrote, are suppression
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See review in Book Section. Page Ell
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of information, and the Govern
ment'S own propaganda machine
He added:
THESE two innovations con-
stituted the totalitarian news
pattern in a country that never
before had known either of them
and took the Government far
ther away from the people,
The book traces the path
through two world wars, that
brought the Federal Government
into dissemination of propa-
ganda, along with increased use
of the trial balloon" and of
the-record" statements by Wash
ington officials, plus outright
suppression of facts. Mr.. Cooper
describes the relations of the
press with the wartime Presi-
dents Wilson Roosevelt and
Truman.
All three, he says, adopted at
titudeS which were viewed with
grave misgivings even by their
friends"
Cites 1854 Findings
Nor has the situation improved
under the Eisenhower admins
tration, the book asserts. 1t cites
the findings, in 1854, of the
Freedom of Information Com
mittee of the American Society of
Newspaper Editors. 1t quotes the
chairman, j. Russell Virgins, ex-
ecutive editor of the Washington
Post and Times Herald, as say
ing:
AT every level of American
Government, there is an appar-
ent reluctance to allow the peo-
pie to have the facts"
Mr. Cooper himself writes that
Newspaper societies and asso-
Citations repeatedly declared the
situation was bad and getting
worse"
Kent Cooper was connected
with the Associated Press for
more than As years. He was ap-
pointed general manager in 1925.
He held this Office until 1916, and
also was executive director until
his retirement in 1851.
He played a major role in the
destruction of news cartels
around the world. between the
two world wars, and sought to
have freedom of information
guarantees written into the
treaties that ended both wars.
In predatory note to his book,
he emphasizes that he is not
writing in the capacity OF
spokesman for the Associated
Press in any respect whatever. -
Two Episodes Detailed
Two of the most extraordinary
episodes in newspaper history
the Zimmerman message OF
1917, and the Kennedy case
In World War II-are related in
detail by Mr.. Cooper to docu-
ment his indictment of govern
mental manipulation and sup
preston Of news.
The Associated Press was a
major participant in both.
The Zimmerman message"
outlined a possible alliance be-
tween Germany and Mexico, Ill
rected against the United States
II this Nation should Join the
allies against Germany. 1t Of
Tered an astounding inducement
to MeXlco-"the lost territory in
New Mexico, Texas and Arizona :
British cipher experts having
broken the German code, Londor
furnished Washington with 8
clear copy of the message.
Mr.. Cooper says President vii.
son and his aides used it as E
propaganda bomb"
He notes tn a neutrality.
minded Congressman were fill
clustering against President vii,
sons demand for Congressiona
permission to arm American mer
chant ships, 1t was now suggested
that the Zimmerman message
be released to "incite the people.
Was Leaked" to AP
This was done, Mr.. Cooper re
ports, by leaking" it to the AS
ISOLATED Press-on condition tina
the White House was not namet
as the source. Mr.. Cooper notes
Except that he had beef
elected on an anti-war policy
and now wished to incite tn,
people there was no reason
whatever for the President t,
hide behind the press association
in throwing his propaganda
bomb.
Instead, the news should hay
been released to the whole publ
with the United States Govern
ment'S reinsurance that Their
was nothing to fear Mexic
could not have started wa
against the United States in con
formity with the German sug
eestion. The Wilson administra
ton knew this, and the peopl
had a right to know it. too.
Propaganda. Mr. Cooper write.
helped put the United States int
both world wars. He said it ma
be used in one of two ways:
IF the President wants a dec
laration Of war by Congress, h
must either:
By news DrODapAnda OoaI