proposal is moved, it is evidently in order that it may be
freely discussed, and the remarks which may be made
concerning it considered. One may like or dislike these
remarks, but certainly the right oif criticism is no less a
legitimate right of the Conference delegates.
The observations of our delegation concerning the Austral-
ian proposal, and the substance of the proposal itself, have
been published in the Soviet press. Why should the Austral-
ian delegation in its turn not publish the statements it made
here in support of its proposals, arid the substance of the
reply of the Soviet delegation? Let people judge what is right
and what is wrong in the proposals of the Australian and
Soviet delegations.
You know that before the opening of the Conference cer-
tain foreign newspapers started a rumour that the Soviet
delegation was opposed to pressmen attending the meetings
of the Conference and ils committees. As soon as this quesr
tion was raised at the Conference the Soviet delegation de-
clared that this was a lying rumour, that somebody had
started it although it absolutely did not correspond to fact.
We welcome the presence of press representatives- at our
commission. We shall be gratified if the views of both the
Australian delegation and the Soviet delegation on this sub-
ject are published in detail in the press.
If the representatives of the press help to present this or
that viewpoint objectively to democratic opinion, it will be
very useful. One should not be afraid of the press, not be
afraid if the press discusses the important problems under
consideration at the Conference and truthfully tells what
proposals there are on important problems and what ob-
jections are raised to these proposals. This can only be use-
ful in clarifying the situation, and in averting fabrications
and false rumours which prevent people from learning the
real situation.
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