TRUTH AS COUNTER TO PROPAGANDA

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26093, 21 April 1950, Page 7

TRUTH AS COUNTER TO PROPAGANDA

Mr Truman Calls For World Campaign REPLY TO CLAIMS OF COMMUNISM (NJS. Press Association —Copyright) (Rec. 11.10 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 20. Mr Truman to-day called on the free nations of the world to join in a great campaign of truth to counter Communist propaganda. He announced he had directed the Secretary of State (Mr Acheson) to plan a strengthened world-wide information programme to spread the truth about the United States and its democratic ideais. Mr Truman, who was addressing the American Society of Newspaper Editors, appealed to them and to the private press, radio, and other news distributors in other free nations to join in the campaign. The President suggested that American labour unions, farmers, and businessmen should strengthen their contacts with their opposite numbers abroad. Americans should encourage many more people from overseas to visit the United States, and there should be a greater exchange of student teachers between the United States and other countries. He called Communist propaganda a process of systematic deceit, distortion, and lies.

“We must make ourselves known as we really are, and not as Communist propaganda pictures us,” he said. “We must pool our efforts with those of other free peoples in a sustained and intensified programme to promote the cause of freedom against the propaganda of slavery. “We must make ourselves heard round the world in a great campaign of truth. “We have tremendous advantages in the struggle for men’s minds and loyalties. We have truth and freedom on our side. The appeal of free institutions and of self government springs from the deepest and noblest aspirations of mankind. It is based on every man’s desire for liberty and opportunity. It is based on every man’s wish to be self-reliant and to shape his own destiny. “As we go forward with our campaign of truth we will make lasting progress towards the kind of world we seek—a world in which men and nations live not as enemies, but as brothers.” “False, Crude, Blatant” Mr Truman said that Communist propaganda was so false, crude and blatant that the American people wondered how men could be swayed by it. “We forget that most of the people to whom it is directed do not have free access to accurate information. We forget that they do not hear our broadcasts or read impartial newspapers. We forget that they do not have a chance to learn the truth by travelling abroad, or by talking freely to travellers in their own countries. “This presents one of the greatest tasks facing the free nations to-day. That task is nothing less than to meet false propaganda with truth all round the globe. “Everywhere the propaganda of Communist totalitarianism is spread we must meet it and overcome it with honest information about freedom and democracy.” . . Mr Truman cited the “glittering promises” Communist propaganda made to poverty-stricken peasants ana villagers in the Far East, He said that too often these people heard no voice from the democracies to 'dispute the Communist claims. “Unless we get the real story across to the people in other countries we will lose by default the battle for men’s minds,” he said. “This task is not separate and distinct from other elements of our foreign policy. It is a necessary part of all we are doing to build a peaceful world. It is as important as armed strength or economic aid, the Marshall Plan, or military aid. These and other programmes depend for their success on the understanding and support of our own citizens and those of other countries.”

Task of Newspapers The president criticised some American newspapers for editorial distortion of news about Europe and Asia for domestic political purposes. “Foreign policy is not a matter for partisan presentation,” he said. “Facts about Europe and Asia should not be twisted to conform to one side or the other of a political dispute. Twisting facts might change the course of an election at home, but it would certainly damage our country’s programme abroad. “In many other countries to-day newspapers print about foreign affairs only what their governments tell them to print. They cannot add anything or cut anything. In the democracies newspapers have a free hand. “Only in democracy is there such mutual trust and confidence among citizens that a private group is given such an all-importent role in what the nation as a whole shall do. “There is too much nonsense about striped trousers in foreign affairs. Far more influence is exerted by the baggy pants of the managing editor.”