Propaganda Over the Air

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 28

Propaganda Over the Air

4 4 T was eminently satisfactory,” states the Loudon “Daily Telegraph.’’ 1\ to learn from the Postmaster-General that the Government lias at last decided to permit the use of foreign languages in broadcasts by the 8.8. C. This step was inevitable, if not, indeed, already overdue, now that the United Kingdom has become the only one of the Great Powers to refrain from broadcasting in any language but its own. “It might, indeed, have been thought a gross offence against the civilities of international intercourse for one country to inflict programmes on another country in the second country’s own language without first seeking the courtesy of the Government's permission. “In politer ages such practices would no doubt have been prohibited by common agreement, and the British Government would gladly have participated in a convention of that kind. But in our day it has proved impossible to secure even so modest an agreement as one to prevent the deliberate abuse of the radio for purposes of inflammatory propaganda against ’ foreign Powers.” “There have been Frequent complaints,” says ’’The Times,” "both in Parliamentary questions and in letters to ‘The Times’ of the anti-Brltish propaganda broadcast regularly from Bari in Arabic and other languages of the Near and Middle East, as well as in some of the languages of India.

“At one time the Government seemed to think that this attempt to poison the atmosphere could .safely be treated with contempt When it was alleged from Bari that British aeroplanes had used poison gas on tribes near Aden, Mr. Eden held that the publication of the facts of the case was sufficient reply, although few of those who heard, and possibly believed, the original slander would ever be allowed to know of Mr. Eden’s denial in the House of Commons,

“Latterly, however, they have taken a less complacent view of the possible effect of this kind of propaganda upon ill-educated and largely illiterate populations. They have made repeated representations to the Italian Government, who, of course, control the Bari broadcasts, as they control every other public activity in Italy. “These representations have not been entirely without effect; but clearly the better way is to provide people in countries where there are great British interests at stake with an opportunity to hear ungarbled news in their own languages.” “So long as possible,” asserts the “Liverpool Post,” “it was preferred to assume that the British Government’s policy, sooner or later, spoke sufficiently clearly for itself in its action. “But-in view of persistent and provocative reflections on British policy in foreign broadcasts, this aloof attitude could not be prudently maintained in the present state of the world. Particularly in the Near East it is necessary to put an end to misrepresentation.” “Broadcasting, wrongly used,” points out the “Yorkshire Post," "is a contemptible weapon, poisoning the mind and hardening the heart. Truthfully used, it is the most potent weapon for peace and understanding yet devised.

“So long as these international broadcasts are used with the same discrimination as the broadcasting of the National and Empire news, there can be no doubt about their influence for good. “Day after day news is distorted or suppressed, until the citizens of the Totalitarian States have to admit that they know nothing of the world around them. Many, we hope, will listen to the ‘straight news’ from England, as Englishmen now listen to the propaganda from dictatorial countries.”