Late News CENSOR CODE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 6

Late News CENSOR CODE

Purely Military Security AGREEMENT IN AUSTRALIA (By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Received May 19, 1.40 a.m.) SYDNEY, May IS. A settlement of the censorship dispute between the newspapers and the Commonwealth Government was announced tonight by the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Forde. A new code of censorship principles has been drawn up for the guidance and direction of the censorship authorities and the Press. It is provided that censorship shall lie imposed exclusively tor reasons of defence security. Censorship shall not be imposed merely for the maintenance of morale or prevention of despondency or alarm. Censorship shall not prevent the reporting of industrial disputes or stoppages. Criticism and comment, however strongly expressed, shall be free. Mere exaggeration or inaccuracy shall not be a ground for censorship. Defence security shall be the governing principle for every application of censorship. Except in -the case of immediate ohvious danger to defence security, a breach of censorship directions shall be dealt with by prosecution and not by seizure of the proposed publication. “The Government policy on censorship is strictly uon-political,’’ said Mr. Forde. "There is not, nor was there ever any intention on the part of the Government that censorship should be used iu any way for political purposes. Operation of censorship to safeguard the security of the nation must be related to the existing conditions. As the war position improves its administration will become increasingly liberal,' while still safeguarding the security of the nation and the lives of the members .of the forces.” "AVe unreservedly accept the Government’s announcement confirming _ the principles stated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Curtin, that the censorship is to be exercised only on the grounds of national security,” said Mr. 11. A. Henderson, president of the Australian Newspaper Proprietors’ Association. “AVe accept the statement that this has always been the Government’s intention, but the view of the newspapers is that in the administration of the censorship this has sometimes been exceeded. The newspapers fully recognize the need, for censorship in wartime and will continue to offer the censorship authority the co-operation which they have freely extended in the past.”