BASIS OF PEACE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21605, 6 January 1945, Page 4

BASIS OF PEACE

PUBLIC OPINION DISCRETION OF PRESS ALLIED AGREEMENTS <ll a.m.) RUGBY. Jan. 5. M. Rene Masigli. the French Ambassador to London, speaking to the Foreign Press Association in London, appealed to the press not to exaggerate the importance of disagreements between the Allies in the political adjustments now being prepared. "It is inevitable that disagreement should arise between the Allied Governments, however Hose their understanding." he said, “ibis w:h surprise no one except those who lad in reflect on the complexity ol questions raised at the present tune, and the multiplicitv of interests involved. M. Masigli said the Allies had the right to ask that the press should refrain from the temptation to swHl the importance of those disagreements. The press should always remember that tile mass o' common

interests infinitely outweighed an.'clashes or disagreements that eiier.i

arise. If they could noi tackle tl problems of peace in 1 lie atrnosphe o. trust and friendship, "the l u 'upl;

peace’’ was lost in advance. Whatever agreements were made limy wore doomed if they vvero P become the occasion I'm- politico disputes. Now more than ever tin piers was important.

"In spite of al! the censorships it; the world, or perhaps because p* them, your power is even, growing, he said. “Your responsibilities are growing too. People say that pubne opinion makes flic press. That is mainly a half-truth. It is equally line that tile press moulds public opinion. It follows Hint the piers lunges on politics, including our foreign policy, since whatever the method of negotiation there alwesccm.es a moment when it is y'»ucopies themselves wlro decide the

fate of diplomatic documents, m matter how secretly or carefully the' have been drawn,” M. Masigli added "The atmosphere in which peace t: to be built will be created largely b;. you.”