Freedom of Press Resolved at Geneva Conference

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1948, Page 3

Freedom of Press Resolved at Geneva Conference

(Rec. 9.0). GENEVA. April 22. Presenting to the United Nations Freedom Information Conference, for final adoption. the international treaty drafted by Britain. Mr Ernest Davies said that to every Englishman, the right to express what thought, whether popular or unpopular, whether accepted or rejected, was one he treasured. “Most of this right »can be preserved only if the press is free, and only so long as those who seek to disseminate truth are not hampered in the quest”, he said. The Soviet argued that the people must control the press By the people, they meant the Government. The great fallacy was the assumption that the voice of the people was unanimous. To enable a variety of voices to utter and be heard, a free press was essential. The conference adopted the treaty by 31 votes to six. and the conference also adopted by 28 votes to six the American treaty, binding all accenting States to accord specified freedom and facilities to foreign correspondents. The conference accented the French treaty, establishing the international rights of reply for Governments to alleged false reports endangering the peace, by 33 votes to seevn. Six Eastern European bloc delegates voted against all three treaties. TRIUMPH OF REASON The president of the conference. General Carlos Romulo (Philippines) in a farewell address. ’ said the conference had keen a triumph of reason. What, had been done had proved that the Uniled Nations continued to be a useful instrument of international discussion and negotiation, and justified optimism for the future.