HAND OF STATE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22617, 21 April 1948, Page 5

HAND OF STATE

“MOVING IN ON NEWS

REUTER’S CHIEF CRITICAL (10 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 20. A warning against “the uncontrollable urge of Governments to get their hands on the news,” was given today by the general manager of Reuter’s Mr. Christopher Chancellor, addressing the centenary annual meeting of the Associated Press of America. “Everywhere I see barriers going up, not coming down,” he said. “I see Governments moving in on the news. I see little sign of the growth in understanding of the principles for which we stand.”

Mr. Chancellor emphasised that Reuter’s was dedicated to the principle of truth in news and was owned by free newspapers in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, working in close association for a common purpose. “We owe a great debt to the example and leadershiD of the Associated Press in achieving this position for Reuters.” The proceedings nf the freedom of information conference at Geneva could be viewed only with alarm and apprehension. “We see many nations paying lip service to our conception of freedom of news.” he said. “We see their representatives stating principles without believing in them or understanding them. We watch them manoeuvring for position, lobbying, bartering words and trading ideas. "This may become worse than a farce; it may become a tragedy.” Mr. Chancellor said he was surprised and horrified at the number of Western European statesmen who believed that news services should be, directly or Indirectly, a Government function instead of the- function of a free and independent newspaper press.