Mischievous Reports About Australia

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 100, 29 April 1941, Page 7

Mischievous Reports About Australia

Damaging Effect Overseas ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST NEWSPAPERS United Press Association—By Qlectrlo Telegraph—Copyright. Received Tuesday, 1.5 a.m. CANBERRA, April 28. Caoinet Ministers continue to be concerned and annoyed at the mischievous propaganda disseminated overseas about Australia’s war effort, alleged labour unrest and political disunity. The Acting Prime Minister (Mr. Fadden) reiterated to-night that there was not an atom of truth in any of these suggestions. He an nounced that firm steps had been taken to deal with reports sent out side Australia by irresponsible person, and all that remained was to repea the assurance given to the British anu American people that Australia stooci foursquare behind the British Government. Mr. Fadden said highly coloured stories of possible political changes in Australia and untrue allegations of serious disagreements between the British and Australian Governments on the Grecian campaign sent abroad had threatened to have a considerable influence on United {States opinion. Cablegrams had been received from Mr. R. G. Casey expressing the fear that this form of propaganda would give a fillip to the isolationists and in addition had caused some American newspapers to inquire whether there was auy basis of truth in the stories cabled from Australia.

Cablegrams had also been received from the Australian Minister in Japan (Sir John Latham) complaining of damaging reports from Australia which enaDled the Japanese press to play them up under large headlines. Every responsible person in Australia, added Mr. Fadden, would feel con cerned regarding the reaction which would necessarily follow the publication overseas of certain comment on the war which had appeared in a section of the Sydney press recently—ho exempted the Sydney Morning Herald—which in no sense reflected Australian public opinion and which would have a most prejudicial effect on the Empire’s war effort. Ho was not worried in the least what Berlin thought about Australia \s war effort, but was gravely concerned about what the people in other parts of the British Empire and America, thought. Accordingly the Government was taking action against certain newspapers and persons responsible for the dissemination of false reports and speculation with a view to preventing a repetition.