‘‘Mirror’ Reprints 'Times’ On News Sources

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30085, 20 March 1963, Page 13

‘‘Mirror’ Reprints 'Times’ On News Sources

f A Z J A -Meuter—Copynpnti LONDON. March 19 The ‘Daily Mirror.’' Britain's biggeat-cireaia-.lon newspaper, read by more than 12.0M.M9 people today gave its front and back pages to a 12-column reprint of a leading article from “The Times." calltag Jk nation’s attention to “what a free press is all aboet.” It was the first time the “Daily Mirror” had printed a

story right across its front and back pages, and the first time the “Mirror” had reprinted a leader from “The T imes." The leader from “The Times” was based on the issue., arising from the gaoling of two journalists for refusing to give their sources of information to a Government tribunal inquiring into the case of a spy in the British Admiralty—William Vassal!. The “Daily Mirror." which has a circulation of more than 4.500.000 a day, said: “The Times’ said it yesterday. The

Mirror agrees wun every word. . . .” “The Times” editorial said: “How ridiculous to imagine that in Britain anything could ever go seriously wrong. The truth is that in a quiet way very much is going seriously wrong. The executive has taken over power from Parliament

“ft riles or fails to rule by a tacit agreement with outside forces in the community that their authority also shall not be challenged. The administrators at all levels decide more and more without the citizen having effective redress.”

“The Times" argued that the lesson of recent events was “that in the final analysis the only people who can preserve the freedom of uie press are e journalist' themselves. It will not be done by the law or by Government: it cannot be done by Parliament." “The Times” said that among the most important fi doms was that “journalists shall receive information Crum sources which they will withhol' from all questioning, because if there were ever the slightest doubt about this many other sources would dry up."