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Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 6

There is likely to be general endorsement among wireless listeners of the view expressed by a correspondent that the choice of music as an introduction to rebroadcasts of the London news lacks imagination. At times these sessions are heralded by martial airs, but there seems to be no system ensuring, as a regular thing, appropriate selection let alone one providing for the exercise of intelligent judgment when earlier recording of the news reveals its nature. It is strange that this shortcoming should be permitted when every day at the source of,the broadcasts—the 8.8. C. itself—timely, stirring overtures are presented. The effect on listeners of cheap, doleful or hackneyed preliminary music—not to mention those recordings which are ill-suited for such occasions by reason of their character or origin—is depressing or irritating. The 8.8. C. sessions come as the living voice of Britain, having the Empire. They are intended, and deserve, to be presented in a virile British way and against a British background of melody or song—or alternatively in an atmosphere suggested by the news itself. There is a wide field of such music, and tlfere can be no excuse for turning to selections which, regardless of their particular good qualities —or lack of them —are not appropriate to the mood or sentiment of the audience.

Political party dissensions in Yugoslavia, containing the seeds of serious unrest after the war, have been happily smothered over by the agreement reached between the two main elements, the Royal Government exiled in London and its supporters in Yugoslavia, and Marshal Tito, president of the Committee of National Liberation and his following in the country. Certain questions, such as the continuation of the monarchy, have been left for settlement later when peacetime organized representative Government has been restored. On the basis of agreement reached, however, conditions have been created for the development of a spirit of concord and co-operation that should enable these questions to be dealt with in a favourable atmosphere. It may be hoped that the example thus set of placing national unity before sectional interests will not be lost upon Poland and Greece, where dissident elements have created political com plications at a time when all should be united in the common task of winning back national freedom and independence. It is noted that Mr Churchill has had discussions with the Greek Premier on the situation, with what is stated to have been encouraging results, and some progress toward national unity has been made. Greece may shortly be in a position to lend valuable assistance to the Allies in ejecting the German enemy from the Balkans, but the aid she should lie able to give, with Allied contributions by way of supplies and equipment, will be largely discounted if the Greek nation is disunited by political cleavages.