Gagging the Press

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 134, 27 August 1927, Page 13

Gagging the Press

AN ITALIAN PROTEST MENACE TO FREEDOM By Cable.—Press Associallon. —Copyright GENEVA, Thursday. The editors and publishers of five of the biggest suppressed Italian newspapers have sent a memorandum to the International Press Conference here, characterising peace-time censorship as the greatest menace to international understanding. This is proved they say, by the persecution of the Opposition and Liberal Press in Italy. Viscount Burnham is presiding over the International Press Conference, held under the auspices of the League of Nations, in order to consider how the ITess may conduce to harmony and co-operation between nation and nation.

He said the Economic Conference must pay greater attention to the newspapers if it desired to increase commercial intercourse and break down the barriers of international exclusiveness. The agenda for the conference comprises telegraphic and wire-

less rates, codes, protection of news and facilities for journalists. Viscount Burnham said there was no question of organising League propaganda. “We are entering,” he said, “on a period of co-operation with the League, in order jointly to employ counsels of conciliation. Our in dependence must be retained as well as the governing principles of public service and enlightenment of the world.” Preliminary meetings of the conference revealed the fact that two acute differences exist. The first is as to property righ in news. The representatives of official agencies claim that official news becomes their exclusive property. This all the private news agencies, especially those of Britain and Germany, resent. The second difference concerns the absolute equality ot Government treatment of official and private agencies in relation to censorship.—A. and N.Z.