B.B.C. Apologises To Lord Beaverbrook

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30054, 12 February 1963, Page 17

B.B.C. Apologises To Lord Beaverbrook

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LONDON, February 10. The British Broadcasting Corporation today apologised in Court to the newspaper propr iet o r, Lord Beaverbrook, for ‘‘a most unfortunate and completely unwarranted defamatory attack" in a radio programme. Lord Boothby, Conservative peer and radio and television personality, also apologised. The B B C. and Lord Boothby were said by their counsel to have agreed to indemnify Lord Beaverbrook for his costs and to pay a substantial sum by way of damages to the Canadian Veterans’ Association in Britain. Counsel for Lord Beaverbrook said that he was a Canadian by birth and founder of the newspaper group which owned the “Daily Express,” the “Sunday Express,” and the London “Evening Standard.” Lord Boothby was a member of a panel in a radio programme called “Any Questions." which discussed these newspapers. In this, counsel said. Lord Boothby had made a serious

personal attack on Lord Beaverbrook and other Canadian personalities and said it was desirable to pass an immigration bill to keep out the Canadians. He had said that Lord Beaverbrook and these other Canadians had done nothing but harm to Britain, counsel added. Lord Beaverbrook welcomed the right of any person to express fair and honest criticism of his conduct, both as a newspaper proprietor and in public life, but he could not allow a disgraceful attack like this to go unchallenged. ’ Counsel for the 8.8. C. said it had dissociated itself from Lord Boothby’s remarks and had broadcast an apology to Lord Beaverbrook which was also published in the “Radio Times," the 8.8.C.’s weekly newspaper. Lord Boothby’s counsel said he wished to express his recognition of the great services Lord Beaverbrook had rendered to Britain.

Society is produced by our wants: government by our wickedness.—William Godwin