811.91261/3–646: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Kennan )
us urgent
459. We have discussed change of censorship procedure with Washington Bureau Press Chiefs of organizations, mentioned in your 684, March 6. They are greatly concerned as is Dept at implications. They feel that as protection to themselves and public that new system must be publicized that readers may know they can place no confidence in what they read from Moscow, as blind censorship permits correspondent only to file dispatch without any assurance that it will ever reach US, or that it will not be completely different and possibly the opposite of information correspondent intended to transmit.
Press Bureau Chiefs who called at Dept here informed that Dept wishes to do everything it possibly can to be of assistance and that you are being instructed, and you are here instructed, to take this matter up orally with highest Soviet official you can reach and inform him that while US Govt is absolutely opposed to political censorship or any censorship in time of peace and hopes it will eventually be abolished everywhere, it realizes it is prerogative of a sovereign Govt. This Govt feels very strongly, however, that when censorship is used it should be exercised to minimum and not maximum extent and inconvenience correspondents as little as possible. We are sure it can function much better when correspondent has opportunity to discuss deletions with censor and is permitted to withdraw his dispatch if he feels deletions change its tenor. It makes the censorship more tolerable and creates less friction.
American publishers have sent correspondents they thought well qualified to capital of a friendly Govt for purpose of reporting news. They are glad that Russian correspondents are able to reside in US and report their observations without any censorship whatever. They feel there should be reciprocity by Soviet Govt. This Govt thoroughly agrees with them and in addition believes that in long run it is in interest of good relations to have as much freedom as possible for our respective peoples to receive objective reports of news events in friendly countries through their own experienced correspondents.
At our request Bureau Chiefs are not publicizing blind censorship for few days in hope that your representations may be effective in securing at least return to system which prevailed before transfer of censorship function to Post Office.