WAR PUBLICITY

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1940, Page 9

WAR PUBLICITY

BRITISH POLICY.

[British Official Wireless] RUGBY, July 31

Asked in the Commons as to the reasons for the delay in announcing the sinking of the transport Lancastria, Mr Duff Cooper stated that she was engaged in military operations, and it was evident from the German wireless announcement that the enemy was totally unaware of the identity of the ship that had been sunk. It was contrary to the general policy of the Government to announce the loss of individual merchant ships, the number and total tonnage of merchant ships lost being in weekly statements. The Lancastria’s tonnage was announced in the statement issued on Jtily 2. Questioned in the Commons about the recent appointment to the Ministry of Information staff of Sir Maurice Peterson, lately British Ambassador at Madrid, Mr Duff Cooper said that Sir M. Peterson’s function as Controller of Overseas Publicity was to superintend the work of the foreign publicity, Empire publicity, and American divisions of the Ministry. 'There was no question of demarcation of territory between the Ministry of Information and the British Council, as the activities of the latter were confined to the cultural sphere. The 8.8. C., acting under the general guidance of the Ministry, was responsible for both foreign and Empire broadcasts.