Evening star., 1961-05-31

military OF CIVILIAN OIIlCldlS 10
issues with them without
breaking the rules.
Arthur Sylvester, Assistant
Defense Secretary for Public
Affairs, says the new policies
are in the public interest and
If reporters are not getting all
the news they should it is be-
cause they aren't working hard
enough.
Such arguments are bound
to occur so long as the public'S
right to know must be tenn
pered by the requirements Of
military security. But reporters
who have been covering the
Pentagon since the day its
doors opened early in World
War II say they have never
seen such q sharp - or short
tempered-split.
Tough Approach
Both sides agree that Mr..
McNamara has instituted his
own approach to news and that
it is a tough approach. He
appears determined to control
closely the information flowing
from the defense establishment.
There is no disagreement be-
tween reporters and officials
= on the need to protect properly
classified" military secrets.
Their dispute is over material
which may be improperly
classified and material-par-
ticularly in the realm of ideas
which is not classified.
The basic problem is this:
President Kennedy and Sec
retary Mcnamara have said
that the public must learn
both the good and bad about
the Defense Department, but
reporters maintain that strict
enforcement Of new informa-
ton policies would make it
extremely difficult. If not i'm
possible. for them to. learn
the bad.
MIR. Mcnamara has told his
subordinates, according to high
service officials, that before a
policy desicion is made, thu
public will not be told a dis
cussion is going on or what
the various alternatives are,
and after the decision. discus
sion of it will be confined to
explanation and support.
Conflict Seen
Reporters say this conflicts
with President Kennedy's sup
port of public scrutiny" of
Government operations.
They say it does not even
square with the Secretary's
own Qualification of his policy,
made public on request of re-
porters at his May 26 press
conference.
In a democratic society"
his new memo to subordinates
said, the public must be kept
informed of the major issues
in national defense policy. E.
The arguments on both sides
must be clear so that there
is a consensus of confidence
in the ultimate decision.
I'VE are under special obli-
CATION to disclose mistakes and
ineffective administration and
operations. The public has at
least as much right to ba d
news as to good news"
Some top Pentagon officials
say they interpret his position
as meaning that Mr.. McNa-
mara and Mr.. Sylvester must
decide which issue should be
discussed and which "b a d
news" should be made public.
Normal Channels
Mr.. Mcnamara, according to
Mr.. Sylvester, believes that re-
porters will learn everything
they need to know through
normal. controlled channels
official announcements, press
conferences and interviews ar
ranged by information officers.
The public, furthermore. will
be informed through their
Congressman, who will be able
to question defense officials.
In fact, Mr.. Mcnamara told
Congress, reportere are getting
too much out Of the Pentagon
now particularly intelligence
and weapons information.
To enforce his policies. Mr..
Mcnamara has done these.
things:
Told subordinates they must
support his policies and not
reveal pre-decision controver-
sizes.
Said any person talking with
newsmen should be willing to
put his name" on the infor-
nation given. In other words.
Mr.. Sylvester says, news
sources should be willing to
reveal to their superior or Mr.. |
Sylvester's office the details Of
any interview. Reporters say
such a policy dries up news
sources.
Ordered security clearance"
officers to be more strict in
censoring material both for
security and policy reasons.
Passed the word that leak
ers" would be punished Sc
verely.
Ordered tighter control over
testimony by military men be-
fore Congress.
Studies Further Curbs
Mr.. Mcnamara is reported
to be considering going even
further. He has told high Off
cials that he is worried by the