FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 7

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS

Commission Set Up By U.N.

SOVIET GROUP OBJECTS (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) NEW YORK. Feb. 24. In the face of Soviet opposition, the United Nations to-day set up a new body of 12 independent experts to watch over the freedom of the press throughout the world. The Economic and Social Council decided to establish a sub-commission on freedom of information and the press, the members of which will be selected by the Commission on Human Rights, subject to the consent of their Governments. They will serve as “experts in their personal capacities, and not as official representatives.” Their term of office will expire on December 31. 1952. Specifically, the sub-commission will report to the Economic and Social Council, “among other things,” on: (1) How much freedom of information is given to the peoples of the world. (2) The persistent dissemination of information which is false, distorted, or otherwise injurious to the principles of- the United Nations Charter. The commission will promote the dissemination of true information “to counteract Nazi, Fascist or any other propaganda of aggression or racial, national, religious or any other discrimination measures.” The commission will also help foreign correspondents. The Soviet group (Russia, Poland arid Byelorussia) objected, and said that the representatives should be chosen by and speak for Governments, otherwise they would merely promote the interests of the “capitalist press monopolists.”