Evening star., 1961-04-28

I LSLb W ICot1CHG ACHtCuy
Bureau OF Advertising OF the
erS Association in NeU York:
clear and its presence has
never been more imminent.
1t requires a change in out
look, a change in tactics, a
change in missions-by the
Government, by the people, by
every businessman, union leader
and newspaper. For we are
opposed around the world by
a monolithic and ruthless con-
spiracy that relies primarily on
covert means Of expanding its
sphere Of influence-on infil-
tradition instead of invasion, on
subversjon instead of elections,
on intimidation instead of free
choice, on guerrillaS by night
instead Of armies by day.
Every democracy recognizes
the necessary restraints Of ma
tional security-and the ques-
ton remains whether those re-
straintS need to be more strictly
observed If we are to oppose
this kind Of attack as we'll as
outright invasion.
Our News Aids Enemy
For the facts of the matter
are that this Nations foes have
openly boasted Of acquiring
through our newspapers infor-
nation they would otherwise
hire agents to acquire through
theft, bribery or espionage;
that details of this Nations
covert preparations to counter
the enemy's covert operations
have been available to every
newspaper reader, friend and
foe alike; that the size, the
strength, the location and the
nature Of our forces and
weapons, and our plans and
strategy for their use, have all
been pin-pointed in the press
and other news media to a
degree sufficient to satisfy any
foreign power; and that, in at
least one case, the publication
Of details concerning q secret
mechanism in our possession
required its alteration at the
expense of considerable time
and money.
Security As A News Test
In the absence Of open war
fare, they recognized only the
tests of journalism and not the
tests of national security. And
my question tonight is whether
additional tests should not now
be adopted.
That question is for you alone
to answer. No public official
should answer it for you. No
Government plan should impose
its restraining against your will.
But I would be failing in my
duty to the Nation If ] did not
commend this problem to your
attention, and urge its thought
full consideration.
On many earlier occasions, !
have said-and your newspa-
pers have said-that these are
times that appeal to every citi-
zen's sense of sacrifice and self
discipline. They call out to
every citizen to weigh his rights
and comforts against his OBJ
legations to the national good
1 cannot now believe that those
citizens who serve in the news
paper business consider them
selves exempt from that appeal,
Is 1t in National Interest?
I have no intention of estab-
fishing a new office Of war in
formation to govern the flow of
news. I am not suggesting any
new forms of censorship or
new types Of security classifi-
cation. I have no easy answer
to the dilemma I have posed,
and would not seek to impose
it If I had one. But I am ask
ing the members of the news
paper profession and industry
in this country to re-examine
their own obligations-to con-
slider the degree and the ma
ture of the present danger
and to heed the duty of self
restraint which that danger i'm
poses upon us all.
Every newspaper now asks it.
y