Changes

Launched as the '''''National Guardian''''' in October 1948 by [[James Aronson]], [[Cedric Belfrage]] and John McManus, contributors included pro-Communist writers such as [[Agnes Smedley]] and [[Anna Louise Strong]].  [[Wilfred Burchett]] was also a significant influence in the ''National Guardian's'' editorial policies.

Launched as the '''''National Guardian''''' in October 1948 by [[James Aronson]], [[Cedric Belfrage]] and John McManus, contributors included pro-Communist writers such as [[Agnes Smedley]] and [[Anna Louise Strong]].  [[Wilfred Burchett]] was also a significant influence in the ''National Guardian's'' editorial policies. Testimony by [[Elizabeth Bentley]] and confirmed by the [[Venona]] intercepts, revealed that Belfrage made contact with Soviet espionage agents during [[World War II]].  In 1947 the [[FBI]] questioned Belfrage, who admitted to having provided confidential information to the Soviets. Burchett is most famous for his false reports on American use of [[germ warfare]] in the [[Korean War]] and his collaboration in the brainwashing of American POWs.  In June 1952 over Beijing radio Burchett accused the Americans of perpetrating "the most monstrous crimes against humanity."  He said that in germ warfare the Americans had launched upon mankind a weapon more frightful than the [[atomic bomb]].  In order to support these allegations, Burchett assisted in the extraction of "confessions" from American pilot POWs.

 

Testimony by [[Elizabeth Bentley]] and confirmed by the [[Venona]] intercepts, revealed that Belfrage made contact with Soviet espionage agents during [[World War II]].  In 1947 the [[FBI]] questioned Belfrage, who admitted to having provided confidential information to the Soviets.

 

Burchett is most famous for his false reports on American use of [[germ warfare]] in the [[Korean War]] and his collaboration in the brainwashing of American POWs.  In June 1952 over Beijing radio Burchett accused the Americans of perpetrating "the most monstrous crimes against humanity."  He said that in germ warfare the Americans had launched upon mankind a weapon more frightful than the [[atomic bomb]].  In order to support these allegations, Burchett assisted in the extraction of "confessions" from American pilot POWs.

The hoax of American use of germ warfare in Korea has persisted among [[Marxist-Leninist]] writers. In 1998, however, news reports noted:

The hoax of American use of germ warfare in Korea has persisted among [[Marxist-Leninist]] writers. In 1998, however, news reports noted:

Aronson continued to publish the ''National Guardian'' until 1967, when he resigned.  The papers masthead was changed from "progressive" to "[[radical]]" newsweekly and later the name was changed to simply ''Guardian''.   

Aronson continued to publish the ''National Guardian'' until 1967, when he resigned.  The papers masthead was changed from "progressive" to "[[radical]]" newsweekly and later the name was changed to simply ''Guardian''.   

The ''National Guardian'' was one of the first American based newspapers that supported Soviet foreign policy oppossition to the [[Vietnam War]] and carried on-scene reports from Wilfred Burchett. <ref>[http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:45uLGC93fs0J:www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/HoChiMinh.htm+HO+CHI+MINH+an+appreciation+by+Wilfred+Burchett&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us HO CHI MINH an appreciation by Wilfred Burchett]</ref> In a secret White House meeting with President Johnson in 1967 Burchett is refered to as "often a reliable spokesman for North Vietnam". <ref>http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/v/13160.htm </ref>

The ''National Guardian'' was one of the first American based newspapers that supported Soviet foreign policy oppossition to the [[Vietnam War]] and carried on-scene reports from Wilfred Burchett. <ref>[http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:45uLGC93fs0J:www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/HoChiMinh.htm+HO+CHI+MINH+an+appreciation+by+Wilfred+Burchett&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us HO CHI MINH an appreciation by Wilfred Burchett]</ref> In a secret White House meeting with President Johnson in 1967 Burchett is refered to as "often a reliable spokesman for North Vietnam". <ref>U.S. Department of State, [http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/v/13160.htm Foreign Relations, 1964-1968, Volume V, Vietnam 1967], Released by the Office of the Historian, Document 364.</ref>

In the late 1960s the ''Guardian'' develops stronger links with [[Students for a Democratic Society]] and the [[Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee]] and other leftist radicals.  By the end of 1969 its paid readership was 24,000, the highest since the aftermath of the Wallace campaign in 1948. <ref>Chronology of Political Events, 1954-1992 [http://www.revolutionintheair.com/chron/chron2.html Part Two, 1967-1970].</ref>

In the late 1960s the ''Guardian'' develops stronger links with [[Students for a Democratic Society]] and the [[Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee]] and other leftist radicals.  By the end of 1969 its paid readership was 24,000, the highest since the aftermath of the Wallace campaign in 1948. <ref>Chronology of Political Events, 1954-1992 [http://www.revolutionintheair.com/chron/chron2.html Part Two, 1967-1970].</ref>