PROPAGANDA

Grey River Argus, 22 June 1939, Page 11

PROPAGANDA

Britain’s New Department [British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, June 19. The recent announcement of the setting up of a Foreign Publicity Department at the Foreign Office, with the Earl of Perth at its head, gave rise to a number of questions which were answered in the Commons. It was made clear that the purpose of the Vansittart Committee, appointed some 18 months ago, was to coordinate the work of foreign publicity undertaken by such bodies as the British Council, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Travel Association, and bring together such Government departments as were concerned in this work. The new department at the Foreign Office would henceforth be responsible for co-ordinating tnese activities, and would have the expert advice and assistance of these and other outside organisations in making better known abroad significant socialogical developments and industrial and cultural achievements in Britain. It was also stated that the existing relations between the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Foreign Office regarding foreign language broadcasts would undergo no change. Although the responsibility for what is broadcast wifi continue to rest with the British Broadcasting Corporation, it will continue to maintain very close contact with the Foreign Office and will make full use of tne information at the disposal of the Foreign Publicity Department. Members also showed interest .that the department’s functions should include giving publicity to the principles of international justice, . cooperation, and peace to which Britain subscribed. The Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs (Mr Butler) replied with an assurance that none of the clauses for which Britain stood would be overlooked.