Speech #780044979

While the first amendment to the Constitution expressly states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press and while Congress has made no attempt to do so. the President has assumed to deny freedom of the press and to challenge Congress to support the constitutional guaranty. By his decision that the international conference meeting to discuss the question of food for the world shall be secret. he has thrown down the gauntlet to the Congress of the United States. By the decision to prohibit the press from being present at the Bermuda conference. which is expected to take action with reference to refugees. he indicates that he believes that he has become a dictator. Through the Office of War Information. which feeds propaganda. undisclosed to our own citizens. to foreign nations and to our armed forces. this muzzling of the press has been carried on. Resolutions have been introduced in both branches of Congress. requesting that members of each body and of the press be represented at the discussions at the food conference to be held on May 18 at Hot Springs.