PRESS AND RADIO

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 6

PRESS AND RADIO

CONTROLLED! IN ITALY

THE WORK OF PROPAGANDA

FREEDOM NOT VALUED

Propaganda is one of the most imIportant governmental activities in Italy, writes Edward B. Hitchcock in the "Christian Science Monitor."

■Rome had its Ministry of Press anfl Propaganda for a long time. It was recently changed as to; name, becoming the Ministry of Culture. Jn its offices are centred Press, radio, and cinema, three of the foremost propaganda agencies in the world today. It has been said ; that the ; prime purpose of the propaganda bureaux in Italy is for the manufacture of obedience —that is, for the regimentation of thinking.' The actual suppression of any opposition is allocated to other Departments of the Government.

■Of course, his long training as a journalist" told Signor Mussolini how to operate a Ministry of Propaganda, what tp print in the papers of the country—-and, perhaps, what is imore important, what not to print—what sort of publicity to put on the air and on the screen. > . ■'~'"

The Fascists appreciate fully., the value of what might be called positive propaganda, that which will get the quickest reaction from the people of their country. Certain types of 'news are never printed in the Press of Italy. Other kinds get special,twists for home consumption. ■'■:,■■ '

' Not even a Fascist, "with blinders would pretend that, the Italian Press is anything but absolutely obe'dient to the present Administration. It;.' could not be otherwise after fifteen years of ■domination by the one party, that permits of no opposition and must-have absolute unanimity in its printed word.

"Why, of course, our Press is unanimously behind Mussolini and absolutely with the.Fascist regime! If it were not so, what has been, accomplished could not have been : dpne. Aii united Press is essential to the success of such a rule as has been found necessary for Italy. That,is plaihlogic and' should be understandable even among you democrats." ''■'■' ,'■.•'■ ; .''.' •::;' •

NEWS AND POLICY,

This was the expression .voiced by an extremely intelligent man,who has not always been so ardent a friend to the. Fascist regime as he is today, but who now believes that nothing else cap succeed in Italy and is,giving his wholehearted support to th'e present Government. It shows the point of view.: that generally obtains throughotrt the country. Also that where freedom of the Press lias never been highly Valued by..the.people it isjript greatly missed. , .' ■" ■'", '■ . .. ■' ' ■ \\ ■ i

~.;..0ne 'bf.the'' big troubles that .faces ioreign.vPress correspondents in jltaly is their; inability, to: get .news., while it is hews, unless it happens, to fit into the,Government's plan to! give publicity .to, the facts. The Press Ministry simply will not give out any information. And that's that. In a moment of crisis—or until governmental policy has been fully determined —all 'official lips are sealed. Many a foreign correspondent in Rome has often grinned wryly to find himself listening:to hews about, Italy broadcast from England which was1 news .to him! .■"■ ',;'■■■

...When ,the moves on the diplomatic chessboard .were being, made' between London arid.-..Rpmfe '/for : ,. friendly c.obp;e'ratioiiv..late .-in July-,,and early in August, the-correspondents found .every official mouth shut and 'fingers tq;.]ips.

"For 'several days; after the-i-rest -oi the world had the1 news that-the difficulties 'between Rome, and; London were .in way of settlement, the correspondents in the Italian capital could send nothing authoritative to their home papers because they, could get nothing'from anyone in authority at Rome. ; The -Ministry of Press !and Propaganda was awaiting on word from the Foreign Ministry • and • the Foreign Ministry was waiting permission from the Duce to tell about' it all. i '■' '■ " ■':.. ."- r ,: ' . ';.:

There have been occasions when important papers have been forbidden in Italy, when they could not be sold on the street. There have been-times when foreign ' correspondents have been called up on the carpet to explain something they have written. Usually, however, the correspondent of a reputable foreign newspaper finds only most gallant and friendly treatment by Government officials.

FOREIGN ASSOCIATION.

The Foreign Press Association in Rome has fine quartern, the upkeep of which is partly met by the Government. In that building are the offices o£ some of the most important newspapers in the world. On the' first iloor is the association's club room where the members, can meet for social contacts of one sort and another.

A kind of mezzanine runs around a central dome where the telegraph arid telephone instruments are ■•'installed' and where ■ the " correspondents -can get their official news as it is issued :to them. It is all very comfortable and convenient—if .only they could get 'the news they want when they,want it. Absolute control cannot be exercised over the'foreign correspondents who are, serving other than Italian papers in Italy. But the Rome Government can ban the entry and sale of such papers if it wishes to suppress either an unfriendly attitude by some publication or to punish a correspondent who has been obdurate. ■■'■.■ Broadcasting is under Governmental control arid: dictation. The Government. has: all the.time it wants for its "Chronicle of the Regime" and no opposition party could .get the air for its side of the, story; But then, there :s no opposition. .. The same thing is true of the movies where the various ramifications of the Fascist movements have all the time their propoftents think necessary., and everything else must give way. Not only is there no opposition to Fascism in Italy but the Law on Associations of November 26, 1925, dealt with "parties, groups, and political organisations in general, unless merely temporary." ' ■ .

SLOGANS EVERYWHERE.

At any rate, it is stated 'that there is no Masonic organisation continuing its meetings today in Italy, unless the members, operate subterraneanly as the early'Christians; used to do in their use.of.the catacombs. It is claimed that all secret-societies, have infact been stamped out.

Fascist slogans are seen everywhere in Italy. ;. There is scarcely a blank wall ■of any size that does not have its propaganda in big black letters. And the words "Duce"' and "Dux," often alone, but sometimes with the word "Re" (for King), are also everywhere. ' , Several of these were especially significant, as, for- instance, that one which we read first as we came into the harbour at Palermo; "To others the Mediterranean may be just a road, but to us it is life"; and "We are ready to march .on the way of Empire."

Much of thk propaganda bristles; with threat. As:, "Molti nemici, molto honor.e'-'—"Many enemies, much honour"; and "Who isn't willing to die for his country isn't worth living in it." ' ■ . '

To see those three staccato words of the Balilla, "Credere, Obbedire, Combattere," on wall after wall, was effective. Those words mean: "To believe, to obey, to fight." They say the Italians believe in their leadership, and believing, they will, obey, and fight for it if necessary.