WORLD PRESS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 141, 27 March 1948, Page 5

WORLD PRESS

Discussion at Geneva RUSSIAN MOVE DEFEATED V IN.Z.P. A.—Copyright). GENEVA, March 25. The Steering Committee of the United Nations conference on freedom of information voted nine to two against the Russian move to prevent the proposed international charter for the world press going on the conference agenda. The Russian delegate, M. Bogomolov claimed that this infringed a nation’s sovereign rights. The Yugoslav delegation alleged that the press in many countries has become a capitalist industry. The delegation demanded that those who controlled organs of information should be legally responsible for any “calumnies, lies and incitements to Avar they published.” Reuter’s correspondent says this statement may be the opening of a broadside in the ideological Avar expected at the conference. The Polish Minister of Information, General Grosz, attacked “warmongering” by the American Press and the “Voice of America” broadcasts to Poland. It was the first full policy statement by a * Soviet bloc nation since the conference opened. General Grosz said that, although Poland granted complete freedom to foreign correspondents. Polish journalists in western countries Avere obstructed. The “Voice of America” broadcasts presumed to inform people of Poland on life in Poland, instead of informing them of life in the United States. The freedom of the Press should reflect the vital interests of nations and should be denied to “Avarmongers and the reactionary supporters of the remnants of Fascism.”