FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 7

FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED NEW YORK, November 20. The United Nations Assembly Social and Cultural Committee adopted the Philippines resolution authorising the Economic and Social Council to call a conference on freedom of information before the end of 1947. The resolution proposed that the conference should be attended by representatives of the Press, radio* films, and all other information media. No delegation voted against the resolution, but Russia, the Ukraine, Byelo-Russia, Czecho-Slo-vakia, India, South Africa, and Venezuela abstained. Mr F. Besvvick (Britain) proposed that the agenda should include—First, the promotion of the widest and freest exchange of views without censorship; secondly, the extension of travel facilities and freedom of movement to all bona fide correspondents; and, thirdly, the establishment of a code of conduct for journalists. Mr Beswick said that “ a clean wind of information ” could sweep away suspicions between countries.

Mr David Wilson (New Zealand) suggested the scope of the conference should be widened to include not only freedom to obtain news, but also methods for fair and honest presentation of news by channels which were Often used for the dissemination of propaganda. M. Gusev (Russia) told the. committee that he supported the principle of the proposed conference, but objected to the inclusion of films, which should be the subject of a separate conference.