Honour of Press at Stake

Manawatu Times, Volume 70, Issue 110, 11 May 1945, Page 5

Honour of Press at Stake

Victory “ Scoop ” Causes Major Sensation

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) Received Thursday, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, May 10.

Brigadier-General Frank Allen, Director of Public Relations at Shaef, in a statement on “the incident in which the Associated Press of America allegededly obtained a scoop in anticipation of some offer by the German High Command to surrender its forces,’’ said the negotiations were of the utmost secrecy because of the great difficulty due to distance of exactly coordinating action with the Russian Army so that unconditional surrender could be made simultaneously on the Eastern and Western fronts. 4 ‘ The fact tha* the Germans were desperately trying to create misunderstanding between the Russians and the Allies intensified the need for secrecy. They, as late as May 6, broadcast their intention to negotiate with the Allies in order to gain time and strength for the battle against the Russians. General Eisenhower accordingly gained from the Russian High Command authority to act in accepting unconditional surrender on all fronts. ‘ ‘ The understanding was that he was to observe the greatest secrecy and make no announcement of any kind until the Russians were satisfied through later and more formal contact with the German Command that the surrender was genuine and did not represent merely an additional attempt to gain advantages at their expense. Because of these considerations and the saving of American lives, General Eisennower was doubtful of the propriety of admitting any individuals at the meetings except those officially connected with them, but on earnest representations that no newspapermen would release the information concerning the proceedings until authorised, he allowed 17 pressmen to witness the proceedings. ’ ’ General Allen added that he personally pledged every correspondent on his honour not to communicate the result of the conference or its existence before the respective Governments announced the fact. “All observed this pledge except Edward Kennedy, of the Associated Press, who used unauthorised channels in order to commit a deliberate violation. “General Eisenhower was placed in the position of “having broken his understanding with the Russian Allies for which reason he feared that the entire chain of negotiations involving a later meeting between the Russian, German and Allied Commands might break down, prolonging the war. General Eisenhower ass:ed me to express to all other newspapermen his great gratification that with this exception his confidence in the Press had not once been violated in the three years of his command. ’ ’ THE CULPRIT’S DEFENCE Mr. Kennedy lias issued a statement saying: “I saw a representative of the existing Government sign the agreement of unconditional surrender. 1 was informed by a representative of Shaef ruoiic xveiations that although no military security was involved, Siiaef Public Relations intended to suppress this news from the public until later. I informed the rejjresentative of bhaef public Relations that x couid not accept this view and that since it had been conceded that no military security was involved, I intended to send the story and I sent the story.’’

The Associated. Press points out that Kennedy distributed the statement to Shaef correspondents and the Paris press. The Associated Press’s previous efforts to contact Kennedy failed. Kennedy is still not permitted to communicate directly with his home office. Kennedy earlier, through a Paris office message, denied that he had admitted any breach of confidence. The president of Acme Newspapers (Mr. Pred xerguson) has sent a telegram asking the Associated Press to state publicly its official attitude on future military secrets and other confidences. Mr. Ferguson said that unless the statement was forthcoming, Acme would propose the dissolution of the news-picture pool under which the American news-picture services combine their resources in the war zones. Mr. Ferguson added that otherwise, Acme couldn’t share any responsibility for the action of any Associated Press photographers in the war zone through the pool. Mr. Ferguson ’s telegram added: “It is inconceivable to me that you, as one of the leaders in demanding the freedom of the press in the conduct of international affairs, would fail also to recognise to the fullest degree the responsibility of the press. To my mind no scoop is worth undermining the very foundation of honest journalism. If individual correspondents are to be permitted to decide for themselves on the spot whether they will or will not observe confidences, then the entire journalistic structure which has been so carefully built up for the coverage of national and international affairs is destroyed. I don’t see how there can l>e a further White House conference, nor how members of Cabinet or the representatives of any foreign Government can speak freely before a Press conference if an Associated Press man is present. ’ *

Responding to a request from the New York-Herald-Tribune’s vice-presi-dent (Mrs. Helen Reid) that he make a statement, Mr. Kent Cooper (head of Associated Press) said: “The observance of all the obligations voluntarily assumed is always, has been and will continue to be a cardinal principle of Associated Press and its employees, but there will be no prejudgment of Ed ward Kennedy by me. I have not yet had the advantage of a personal meet ing with him or the military author ities to obtain the detailed information I should like to have. That any implication of any prejudice whatever is indicated by this statement, would be entirely unfair.’’

Mr. Kent Cooper announced that he has appointed W. E. Gallagher, acting chief of the Associated Press Bureau in Paris to succeed Kennedy. Mr. Cooper explained that this action was taken without prejudice to Kennedy pending a full investigation.

A fully completed occupation survey card must be produced by every Australian over 14 when applying for the new food and clothing ration books early next month. The survey is intended to bring the civilian national register up to date and assist the postwar reconstruction authorities in the changeover to peacetime economy.— Canberra cable.