Editorial Note

President Truman, in an address before the American Society of Newspaper Editors in Washington, on April 20, commented upon the powerful Communist campaign aimed at swaying peoples around the world in favor of Communism, portraying the Soviet Union as a foremost advocate of peace, reviling the United States as a nation of “warmongers” and “imperialists”, and seeking to destroy American influence around the world. The President reviewed government and private efforts to counteract Communist propaganda and make the truth known to people abroad, and he singled out the work of the “Voice of America” and United States information offices and libraries. The President stated that there was a great need to improve and strengthen the whole range of information and educational services, and he had directed the Secretary of State to plan a strengthened and more effective national effort in the information field. The President concluded:

“We must make ourselves known as we really are—not as Communist propaganda pictures us. We must pool our efforts with those of other free peoples in a sustained, intensified program to promote the cause of freedom against the propaganda of slavery. We must make ourselves heard round the world in a great campaign of truth.”

For the text of the President’s address, see Department of State Bulletin, May 1, 1950, pages 669–672 or Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1965), pages 260–264. For Assistant Secretary of State Barrett’s account of his role in preparing the address, with particular reference to the development of the phrase “Campaign of Truth”, see Edward W. Barrett, Truth is Our Weapon (New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1953), pages 73–74.