BRITISH PRESTIGE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1937, Page 5

BRITISH PRESTIGE

" A PAl'Eli’S COMMENT (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright). LONDON. June D. “Subsidised foreign news services aiming directly and indirectly at injuring British interests, hare become a serious menace,” declares “The Round Table.” .The,.paper adds: “Impartial news has .almost disappeared from the Far East. The Italian, the German, and even the French Governments have supported news agencies to supply the Chinese and Japanese press services, and this at a - fraction of the cost of British agencies.” “The Round Table” quotes numerous items published in newspapers in the Far East emanating from the Continent. which emphasise the British •timidity and weakness. It says tin’s is with the. object of showing that Britain is becoming a second-rate Power. “The Round Table” also draws attention of Italian propagandists in the Levant, who, it says, are assiduously spreading the doctrine that Britain now is everywhere “on the run,'’ and that the Empire will shortly break up. The paper further draws attention to the Italian, the German and the French and the Russian wireless services in Egypt and in Afghanistan, and elsewhere, which, it says, are all working to Britain’s disadvantage and are seeking to undermine her influence. and these wireless services also supply tendentious news to all of the European press at nominal rates, thanks to the Government subsidies. Tt adds; “As a result, everywhere Britain is discredited. The interested Powers are winning greater victories through the dissemination of falsehood than would be possible by the force of arms.”