ATTACK ON

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23919, 10 April 1943, Page 5

ATTACK ON

LABOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. “We question the authority of the 8.8.C. and the Minister of Information to conserve the right of expression through the 8.8.C. for Government members, and yes men from various political parties,’’ said Mr J. McGovern (Independent Labour Party), in the House of Commons debate, attacking 8.8.C. propaganda. "We get this one-sided hash which shows a complete lack of faith in the democratic situation.

“Those selected to put over talks on religious matters are what I might call safe, patriotic men, the sort of people who praise 80001b bombs and hope they do God’s work. No religious expression is allowed. That contradicts the idea of the State waging war. “It is a remarka'ble thing that the 8.8.C. states in medical talks that all foods which are difficult to obtain have no food value, whereas rubbishy substitutes are stated to be of great value. This shows how the medical profession can adapt its requirements to the political need of supporting a Government . which is waging War.” ■Mr McGovern added that abominable things were constantly said over the German radio about the Jews, but no Jew was allowed to reply over the 8.8.C. “One hears the Dean of Canterbury and others protesting, but this is part of the general exploitation of the suffering of these people for the purpose of fighting the war.” Mr McGovern said the manner in which speakers gloated over the massacre of Germans from the air caused a revulsion among decent people. “We can only say now that all moral protests against the bombing of London arose because we had insufficient aeroplanes,” he said. “Once we got them moral objections went into limbo. “This totalitarian radio instrument is being wielded for the benefit of the Government at the Prime Minister’s dictation. Everybody seems afraid to face up to this individual. He appoints in every phase of public life those who can be. depended on to carry out his wishes in . every. phase of- political dictatorship. “The radio should be a national instrument for the propagation of every viewpoint, and unless the 8.8.C.’, is radically changed we will go headlong into the Continent’s mistake.”