751G.00/2–1754: Telegram
The Ambassador at Saigon (Heath) to the Department of State
1469. Repeated information Paris 450, Hanoi unnumbered. During recent weeks tension between journalists covering Indochina war and [Page 1053] French military censorship, which unfortunately is under direct personal supervision of General Navarre, has heightened to dangerous proportions. Recent flap in US and France over alleged military crisis in this theater and consequent demands of home editors on their correspondents here for exciting news or dope stories on what future holds have served to bring censorship issues to a head. Navarre has twice in one week sent this officer to call on DCM to protest stories filed by American correspondents, while correspondents for their part have been active in protesting to Embassy at what they consider cautious and stupid censorship by Navarre’s military aides.
We have endeavored both with Navarre’s officers and with more responsible journalists to point out that path of mutual accommodation is one which both sides must follow. We note, however, that French journalists themselves are in advance of American correspondents in voicing indignation at military censorship and have even proposed in International Correspondents Association of Indochina, which was established last night, that a form of ultimatum be sent to Navarre demanding that he change his censorship policy or take the consequences. It is encouraging to note that Durdin of New York Times and Mecklin of Time-Life have sounded counsels of moderation and would rather try to work out their problems by negotiation.
Believe this not unusual difficulty because of importance it occupies in Navarre’s thinking and because he feels that half his battle must be fought with French public opinion.