THE ADMINISTRATION: Burning Question

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THE ADMINISTRATION Burning Question The process of picking the year's hottest and most controversial articles of export—books consigned to 184 U.S. Information Service libraries in 65 foreign countries—seemed to be getting back on a reasonable basis again last week. After five months of bitter argument, set off by Senator Joe McCarthy's enraged discovery that Communists and fellow travelers were among authors represented in the overseas libraries' 2,000,000 volumes, the State Department issued a hard definition of future policy.

The new policy statement declares:1) The overseas library program is pursued to maintain good will and protect the good name of the American people abroad.

2) Selection of any particular book should be made with an eye toward its usefulness in meeting the particular needs of a particular area.

3) Content is the important thing. It is conceivable that a book by a Communist author should be put on the shelves if it serves the ends of democracy.

4) The U.S. Government has no obligation to include books which directly or indirectly advocate the destruction of our democratic freedoms and institutions.

5) Controversial books are acceptable, but there is a distinction between controversy and conspiracy.

6) Book selection should be based on the recommendation of advisory committees composed of persons (none yet named) of "unimpeachable reputation."

The new policy abandoned two points forced into use by McCarthy: a directive issued in February which forbade use of any material by Communists or fellow travelers, and a directive in March which forbade even the works of "controversial persons."

The new policy was issued by Dr. Robert L. Johnson, director of the State Department's International Information Administration. Shortly after completing it, Johnson resigned—not because of political pressure but because of ill-health.