SLAY PRESS AND RADIO

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 143, 30 March 1948, Page 3

SLAY PRESS AND RADIO

Propaganda Organs for Governments BRITISH SPEAKER’S SHARP DENUNCIATION (N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright). (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) GENEVA, March 29 The draft treaty designed to secure world-wide freedom of expression and, information was presented to the freedom of information conference by the British Minister of State, Mr Hector McNeil.

He declared that controversy, argument and differing ideas were the lifeblood of British journalism. The British Government and people feared all forms of dictation. Mr McNeil referred to the “almost pathological fear of a German revival” which the Polish delegates displayed last Aveek. Britain appreciated the anxieties of the Slav States, but had difficulty in deciding whether these expressions of fear were not mere propaganda. The Slav Press and radio had become propaganda loudspeakers for Governments which avoided free, representative flections. Mr McNeil said it was abominable and vicious when a - Government appointed itself author, censor, publisher, prosecutor, judge and jury. “We ask only that the apparent truth should be exposed to the humblest man 9 who has the impertinence and dignity to tilt against it. It is insane that we, who invite action, are called reactionaries, and that those who cringe behind high walls of prejudice dare call themselves progressives.” Mr McNeil quoted a decree by General Franco announcing that the Spanish press was freehand “could never founder into democratic libertinism fostering criticism of the -State.” Mr McNeil added that he could mirror those words by quotations from Russia, Yugoslavia, Rumania and Hungary and, lie feared, soon from Czechoslovakia.

“Show me such a decree from Western Europe, North America, India, Pakistan or the British Commonwealth,” he declared.