Salt Lake Telegram | 1950-11-27 | Page 5 | To Bolster Security

To Bolster Security Government Slaps Gig Gag GagOn GigOn On Federal Statistics WASHINGTON Nov 27 INS The The government clamped a lid lidon lidon lid on federal statistical information Monday as a move to bolster national national national na na- na- na security ty The action was las taken by Frederick Frederick Frederick Fred Fred- erick J J. J Lawton budget director at President Truman's request Lawton issued an order banning the publishing publishing-of of all government statistics that could be of value to a potential enemy as well as harmless figures that might be combined to produce information harmful to national security All elements clements of the government prepare and make male public dally daily a huge volume of statistics on the general economy trade federal buying and hundreds of other subjects The budget bureau was unable to say what Information may be withheld under the program until untila a study of oC the situation is completed The census bureau several months ago ngo stopped reporting military shipments to individual countries in Europe It does however however however how how- ever release a total figure on exports to Europe compiled from customs bureau reports Lawton said the president di directed dl- dl him to 1 Maintain a surveillance o of the publication of statistics 2 Restrict publication whenever whenever when when- ever in any instance release of the information might endanger the national security The budget director asserted that the government intends to restrict publication only when necessary