Armament > Co-operation of the press in the organisation of peace

LN- >* •
Official No.: Conf. D. 143.
Geneva, November ist, 1932.
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
CONFERENCE FOR THE REDUCTION AND LIMITATION
OF ARMAMENTS
COOPERATION OF THE PRESS IN THE
ORGANISATION OF PEACE.
In accordance with the resolution adopted by the Assembly on October nth, 1932, the
Secretary-General has the honour to transmit to the Governments of States invited to the
Conference for the Reduction and Limitation of Armaments the following documents:
I. Report of the Sixth Commission and resolution adopted by the Assembly (thirteenth
session) on October nth, 1932: document A.59.1932.
II. Extracts from the Minutes of the eighth, ninth and tenth meetings ot the Sixth
Commission of the Assembly.
III. Extract from the Minutes of the ninth plenary meeting of the Assembly.
IV. Annex to the Minutes of the Sixth Commission (document A.31.1932) — Replies
from Press organisations to the enquiry into the “ spread of false information which may
threaten to disturb the peace of the world and the good understanding between nations
Geneva, October 10th, 1932.
I.
REPORT BY THE SIXTH COMMITTEE TO THE ASSEMBLY.1
Rapporteur: Viscount Cecil of Chelwood (United Kingdom).
The question of the collaboration of the Press in the organisation of peace, which was the
subject of an Assembly resolution in 1931, comes before this Assembly as the result of a Council
decision to have a report prepared on the subject of “ the spread of false information which may
threaten to disturb the peace of the world and the good understanding between nations ”.
A valuable contribution to the subject was made by the Conference of Directors of Govern¬
ment Press Bureaux and Press Representatives summoned by the Danish Government at
Copenhagen in January this year, and the problem has also been made the subject of consultation
between the Secretary-General and various Press Organisations. A circular letter was sent to
sixty-four countries and directly reached more than one hundred and thirty Press organisations;
the replies received contained some valuable indications.
The problem is how to reduce or diminish false news which has the effect of exacerbating
public opinion.
Certain broad results emerge from the replies received, particularly from the International
Association of Journalists accredited to the League of Nations, the International Federation of
Journalists, and other Press organisations in different countries. There is general agreement
1 Document A.59.1932.
Series of League of Nations Publications
IX. DISARMAMENT
1932. IX. 56.
S.d.N. 1.880 (F.) 1.475 (A.) n/32. Imp. Kundig.