U. S. WON'T CENSOR PRESS, MCGRATH PLEDGES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP57-00384R001000070098-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2000
• Sequence Number: 98
• Publication Date: March 7, 1951
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2Aa0/08/25 : CIA-RDP57-00384R004000070098-9
on' Censor Press McGrath Pledge,
l110.wspapers in the present emer- newspaper subject to Govern- Grath said,-"there will be no int.
Two Cabinet m embers last night ing, but no newspaper is as dan- and publishers, who in turn get
declared against any form of com- gerous to a society, as basically their cue from the people."
pulsory censorship for American venal and pusillanimous as a Under this Administration," Mc-
gency. ment censorship and control. plied, no disguised, no direct and
Attorney General McGrath said. The most abominable newspa- no indirect censorship of the
that however much the Adminis- per where freedom of the press American newspaper.
ration may abhor ' some publica-
prevails is an enormous improve-
me I nt over the best Government-
controlled newspaper in the total
state. Better a free press with mar-
gins of error broad as an eight-
column banner headline, than a
press that in any degree is di-
rected, harassed, influenced, con-
stricted or inspired by any source
"I think it can fairly be said
that the American newspaper has
lived up to its responsibilities by
constantly improving standards,
and by integrity at least on a Level
with and sometimes superior to
other fields of endeavor-such as,
tions, it will never attempt to
curb their freedom of expression.
Secretary of Commerce Sawyer
suggested a voluntary security
iit 1 d o e A0 'a.ati6i, from
McGrath spoke at Boston
.t efore
the Boston Press Club. Sawyer, a
former publisher, addressed the
Ohio . Newspaper Association at
Columbus.'_
The, Attorney- General declared:
"Experience from the. clays of
Gutenberg has shown there. is no
such thing as, a good and sound
press if it is. coerced in its free-
dom, of 'Opinion, and its right to
,print -the news.-,. .
`}wspapers enjoying unlim-
THE l ENTEN S "
most
in less than 5 minutes
a satisfying meal
thrilll Heat a
Clams with
piece of
and
Approved For Release 2000/08/25: CIA-RDP57-00384R001000070098-9