FREEDOM OF OPINION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 108, 3 November 1942, Page 4

FREEDOM OF OPINION

Freedom to express opinions fearlessly is one of the most treasured possessions of democratic peoples. It is refreshing, therefore, to read that Miss Ellen Wilkinson, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the British Ministry of Home Security, has expressed the view to the International Federation of Journalists that interference with freedom of opinion in -wartime should he of the most restricted kind, ami that the Minister of Information (Mr. Bracken) has affirmed that an independent Press, free to comment, criticise, and tell the truth fearlessly was high on the list of things for which the democracies were fighting. Probably one of the greatest factors'in maintaining the morale of the British people and in encouraging them to put every ounce of elTort into U.ie scale.-- of war has been the knowledge -that a free Parliament and a free. Press have been able to act as their guardians. The great measure of political unity achieved in Britain has not prevented the Mouse of Common? from freely exercising its ris^lit to criticise when it has fejt criticism justified and necessary in the interest? of the nation. Nor has the British Press been, slow'to take full advantage, within the limits dictated by the public interest, of the freedom it enjoys to point to weaknesses in policy and administration and. to urge remedies. The tonic effect of such criticism cannot be doubted. It may well prove to be a major war-winning factor.