FREEDOM VITAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22619, 23 April 1948, Page 5

FREEDOM VITAL

NEWS PRESENTATION EXPRESSION OF VIEWS SOVIET OPPOSITION (11 a.m.) ■ . GENEVA, April 22. Presenting to the United Nations’ freedom of information conference for final adoption the international • treaty drafted by Britain, Mr. E. Davies said that to every Englishman the right to express what he thought, whether popular or unpopular, whether accepted or rejected, was the one he treasured most- „ ~ “This right,’’ said Mr. Davies, can be preserved only if the press is free, and only as long as those who seek 10 disseminate the truth are not hampered in their quest.’’ , , , The Soviet argued that 1 the people must control the press b v the people. They meant the Government. The great fallacy was the assumption _ that the voice of the people was unanimous, said Mr. Davies. To enable a variety of voices to utter and be heard a f ree press was essential. The conference adopted the treaty by 31 votes to 6. The conference also adopted by 28 votes to 6 an American treaty binding all accepting States to accord specified freedom and facilities to foreign correspondents. The conference accepted, a French treaty, establishing international rights of reply for Governments to alleged false reports endangering peace, by 33 votes to 7. Six eastern European bloc delegations voted against all three treaties. The president of the conference. General Carlos Romulo (Philippines), in his farewell address said the conference had been a triumph of reason. What had been done nad proved that the United Nations continued to be a useful instrument of international discussion and negotiation and justified optimism for the future.