BRITISH NEWS ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 156, 29 March 1938, Page 9

BRITISH NEWS ABROAD

Influencing Opinion ‘‘Dominion" Special Service—By Air Mail. London, March 4. In a recent debate in the House of Commons there was an unusual measure of agreement among members of all parties about the need for greater national publicity abroad. A motion by a member of the Conservative Party, and an amendment by a member of the Labour Party both received general support ; finally the motion was slightly altered to meet the general view of the House, and the amendment was consequently withdrawn. It was pointed out that other Governments are increasingly active in the field of propaganda, polltipal ami cultural, whereas the British Government has done very little indeed to influence opinion abroad. It is now necessary that there should be a change of policy, and moral and financial support given to schemes to further the wider and more effective presentation of British news, views and culture in other countries. The radio, the Press, and the cinema, as well as other agencies, must be more effectively employed to this end. Everyone was agreed on one main point: whatever schemes might be devised, there should be no attacks on other countries, and no tendentious propaganda in the bad sense of that word. Although British aims, motives, and actions in the political and international sphere are continually being misconstrued and misrepresented by the propaganda organisations of certain other countries, retaliatory measures will not be adopted. The aim of the British authorities will be to correct mischievous mis-statements and to give exact and objective accounts of British policy and affairs.