U.N.O. INQUIRY ON FREEDOM OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1949, Page 5

U.N.O. INQUIRY ON FREEDOM OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

Soviet Objection (Rec 8.30) NEW YORK, Feb 24

In the face of of Soviet opposition, the United Nations to-day set up a new body of 12 independent experts to watch over the freedom of the press throughout the world. The U.N. ' Economic and Social Council decided to establish a subcommission on freedom of information and of the press.. The members of the sub-committee will be elected by the Commission on Fluman Rights, subject to the consent of their Governments. They will serve as “experts in their personal capacities, and not as official representatives.” The term of office is to expire on December 31, 1952.

Specifically, the sub-commission will report to the Economic Council on, “among other thing.”— (1) Flow much freedom of informa tion is given the peoples of the world.

(2): The persistent dissemination of information which is false, distorted, or otherwse injurious to the principles of the United Nations Charter. (31 How to promote the dissemination of true information so as to counteract Nazi, Fascist, or any other propaganda of aggression, or racial, national, religious, or any other discrimination measures. (4) To help foreign correspondents. The Soviet group—Russia. Poland, and Byelo-Russia, objected. Thev said that representatives should be chosen by and should speak for Governments. Otherwise, they said, 'they themselves would merely promote the “capitalist press monopolists."