DEMOCRACY DEMANDS THAT TRUTH BE TOLD

Chronicle (Levin), 4 June 1946, Page 5

DEMOCRACY DEMANDS THAT TRUTH BE TOLD

i Press Assn.-

By Telegrap".

-Copyright

Received Alomlay, 1 1.25 p.m. LOXPOX, June 3. "Let us have ino ro facts. Let us 1 T.ve tlie freest possible flow of iut'orniation belweeu members of tlie Commouwealth. Let us work for tlie fullest ilow of iiiforniatioa betweeii tlie peoples of ail nations. " This was stated by Air. Attlee wlien wolcomiug delegates at the opeuing of tiie linperial Press Coiiference at (Jrosvcnor llouse. The Priine Alinister added that it was untrue tlie interest of ordinary people of the world was ever luimpered by letting tlie trutli be known. Ile asked delegates to make known when they returned liome that " we in tlie Uuited Kingdom look witli deep and growing aH'ection to our l'riends and conmules throughout tlie (,'onimonwealth and i'eel ourselves consi antly sustaiiieil and supported by the l.nowledg'o that we are menibers of a gi cat conipanionsliixj. ' ' Turning to tlie responsibilities of tlie l.injiire Press, Air. Attlee said: ' ' Wliat liuist be u secure xireserve is tlie utniost possible understanding between our peoples l'roin dav to dav, an interest in oue another's fortunes, tlie power to enter into oue another's thougiits, and a sense of neighbourliness that J (),()()(.) miles of ocean caimot interrupt. We who sit in Caliinets and Parliauients will always do our liest to lielp but you on w honi tlie people depend for inforiuation jibout tlie living world, have a part lio less iinportaut to play. Whai is ini])ortant is that all tliose wliose business it is to iuterpret and in some measure lead public opinion, sliould do so with a steadfast awareness of Ihe responsibility they bear and the obliga tioa upon tliein to xdace all tlie facts before tlie public and not sinigly tliose which support oue particular side. Of eoming discussions 011 ihe freedom of tlie press, Air. Attlee said: 'Mu the deiiiociatic upproacli to a problein wliicli 1 believe is the oiily apjiroach which holds out real iiope for the world, there is 110 freedom niore important tlian this, for it is a freedom which be longs not to tlie press but to tlie public wliose agents 111 this matter tlie newspajiers are. It is a freedom to give ihe facts botli national aad internatioiial, where 011 sound judgiuent ean be fiinned. Somotimes a newsxiaper 's appetite for facts may prove enibarrassing to politicians but as long as you Mick to facts we have 110 coinplainl. The opinion you express on the basis of tliose facts are your owii alfair. We can have 110 coiaplaiut if we do not agree with them. " Tlie Prime Alinister, after paying a tribute to the Dominion 's war ell'orts, specially welcomed the Iudian deletion. "Whether in tlie eoming montlis tlie people of india ehoose to remain with us as a free and ecpial partner in tlie I'ommonwealth or work out their ow 11 destinv in complete separation, they are assured of our lielp aad I'riendsli i '