Evening star., 1962-03-01
Revised Setup
On C,ensoriiI1g
Likely
BY CECIL HOLLAND
- Star staff Writer

More specific requirements
on reviewing speeches of mill
tary leaders seemed in the Off
Ing today as the Senate "muzz-
ling" investigation began O.
week recess. ~
One thing seemed certain:
State Department censors will
be required to give reasons why
they toned down or otherwise
changed speeches on the men,
ace Of communism.
The Senate Armed Services
su bic ON mittee Investigate
ing charges that military lead
ers have been "muzzled" in
talking about communism re-
eessed public hearings after
State Department witnesses ex-
plained the reviewing process.
The witnesses, however, failed
10 spell out specifically why
particular speeches over the
past year or so had been altered
BY changes or deletions made
largely on orders of the State
Department.
Subcommittee Charm a n
Stennis, Democrat of Missis-
sippi, called the recess to give
the State Department time to
check back on censored speeches
and inform the subcommittee
IN detail about the changes.
Possible Recommendations
The requirement for an ex-
planation of any mandatory
changes in speeches of defense
officials, military and civilian,
would buttress an agreement
made between the State and
Defense Departments last De-
cember. But investigating Sem
ators, it is understood, will ask
for the agreement to spell out
In more detail any changes
shat might be made in speeches.
Other possible recommenda-
lions include:
l. Less stringent reviewing of
articles for military technical
journals.
2. No review Of statements or
testimony of military leaders
prepared for presentation be-
fore congressional committees.
3. Assignment of State De-
partment representatives in the
Pentagon reviewing office to
assist in determining what
material should be subjected
to policy review. This was sug-
gested by Senator Stennis after
testimony in the hearing re-
vealed that it was left up to
defense reviewers to determine
whether material should be
sent to the State Department
for checking.
Measures Weighed
4. Steps to give more effec-
tiveness to the reviewing pro-
cedure without making 1t un-
duly restrictive. Both the
Pentagon and State Depart
Tnent are considering such
measures, witnesses have said.
The hearings recessed yes
terday with emphasis on CEN
sorShip that has been prac-
ticed on statements of military
leaders prepared for congress
sional committees. Col. Edward
B. Rasmussen, currently as
signed in Italy. was questioned
about numerous changes made
In a statement by Gen. White,
former Air Force Chief of Staff,
before the House Armed Serv-
ices Committee last year.
Col. Rasmussen, who handled
the clearance of the statement,
testified that he undertook to
find out why changes were
made so that he could explain
them to Gen. White. Notations
made by the colonel at the time
attributed the changes to the
State Department.
Some Of the colonel's notes
read: Don't like hard line;
play everything soft - tone
down.; states Russians are
unhappy because they're unable
to pick up provocative phrases
for their propaganda and
"Mr. Herron-he took it higher.
Where-no one knows"
Heron Called
Before the investigating SEN
ators became too agitated over
the possibility of having been
denied the uncensored views of
Q top military leader, Mr.. Her.
ron was called as a witness. He
turned out to be Francis w.
Heron, deputy director of the
Policy, Plans and Guidance
staff in the State Department
which handles the review of
speeches sent over by the Pen
tagon.
He soothed some feelings by
testifying that as far as he
knew there has never been any
intention of reviewing, much
less changing. testimony of
military leaders prepared for
congressional committees in
closed session. The only thing
the State Department has been
concerned with, the witness
said, were versions of testimony
that were being made public.
Apparently no one in the
Pentagon, as far as testimony
In the hearings has revealed,
made any distinction between