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Show MERRY-GO-ROUND Press Critics Banned By M'Arthur By DREW PEARSON WASHINGTON A top-secret cablegram has Just been received by the War Department from General MacArthur, banning several Important newspapers from taking a trip to Japan. They include the New York Herald Tribune, Christian Science Sci-ence Monitor, Chicago Sun, San Francisco Chronicle, PM, and the Daily Worker. In his telegram to the War Department, General MacArthur accused these papers of "down, right quackery and dishonesty." MacArthur's cable was sent after the War Department wired him, suggesting that a group of newspaper editora and correspondents corre-spondents make a brief tour of Japan and Korea, as they recently re-cently did through Germany. The War Department which is always loath to make suggestions sugges-tions to MacArthur, phrased the telegram in tactful language, proposing that it might be a good idea to let the presa get a real picture of .the occupation. The supreme commander In the Paclflo was not hesitant about replying. First he objected; ob-jected; then, when the War Department De-partment sent him a second cable, he reluctantly accepted but turned thumbs' down on the above-mentioned papers. While many Army men would agree with MacArthur's opposition opposi-tion to the Dally Worker, which is an official communist publication, publi-cation, the War Department was surprised at MacArthur's banning ban-ning of the Christian Science Monitor, which is nonpartisan, and the New York Herald Tribune Trib-une which is Republican. The San Francisco Chronicle, also Republican, la edited by Paul C Smith, who had a brilliant war record th the Marina Corps and Navy, Byrnes On MacArthur Mac Arthur's top-secret telegram follows fol-lows in full: "Clncafpac, Tokyo Whl It continuing my doubts as to the advisability of the contemplated trip, in view of the insistence of the war department I will withdraw with-draw my objection. I would like to have an opportunity to pass upon those contemplated for . selection before their invitation is accomplished. I believe the list should not include actual writers but should be limited to .publishers and editora and ; should not Include those . connected con-nected with papers of known, hostility to the occupation. Such papera are the Christian Science Monitor, Herald Tribune, Chicago Chi-cago Sun, San Francisco Chronicle. Chron-icle. PM, Dally Worker and others .of this stamp whoae articles and editorials have not only been slanted but have approached ap-proached downright quackery and dishonesty.' i (Signed) MacArthur." Note Secretary of Stats Byrnes, talking to a closed-door session of the Kllgore committee, commit-tee, recently said of General MacArthur: "While that fellow has been doing a fine Job, nevertheless he is a prima donna because I have known him for 30 years and when you send out there for costs (occupation (occupa-tion costs), ha is liable to fly the coop and raise a lot of sin." Headaches In Korea, A committee com-mittee of congress recently visited Korea, supposedly on an investigation trip. But what they didn't find out would fill a book. Army censorship has hushed it up, but serious rioting has occurred In Korea, with about 50 civilian policemen killed In the city of Taegu. Their bodies were horribly mutilated by an aroused mob of natives. Folic cruelty was given as the reason for the uprising. American M. P.'s patrol the streets of Taegu and other cities, but are under orders not to get mixed up in civilian brawls. , - Meantime, factories are at a standstill because of lack of supplies and transportation, while part of the civilian population popu-lation is on the vergeNf starvation. starva-tion. Insiders blame conditions on various factors, including the Russians and the blundering of Lieutenant General John R. Hodge, U. S. commanding officer. of-ficer. The fact that our military and American military government detachments get three square meals a day and are billeted more or less comfortably, while Koreans must do without also hasn't helped matters. Neither has the fact that Hodge is constantly con-stantly feuding with the A M G chief. Major General Archer I Lerch, who la griped over alleged al-leged discriminating against thev A M O by Hodge in the allocation alloca-tion of food supplies and vehicles. ve-hicles. Enlisted Men's Liquor Lerch contends that ha cannot do a satisfactory administrative Job with what Hodge gives him, but is afraid to make an official complaint because Hodge is his superior officer. Korean conditions con-ditions probably will not Improve Im-prove until either Hodge or Lerch is removed and insiders who know all the facts say it should be Hodge. Another sore point is Hodge's brass-hat manner of handling enlisted men. The caste system is perhaps worse in Korea than any other occupation area, and one thing which especially riles enlisted men is the disposition of liquor. An officer can store, as many bottles as he wanta in his billet, and only the liquor left over after officers buy all they want is turned over to enlisted men's clubs. As a result the clubs frequently don't get any. V |
