Guard The Tongue

Northern Advocate, 21 February 1940, Page 4

Guard The Tongue

THE Deputy Prime Minister has performed a public duty in emphasising the need which exists for everybody to be careful that they do not form a link in a chain letter of illegitimate information regarding the war. This warning is needed. It may be that little notice is taken of chatter which is obviously based on mere hearsay, but it is quite another matter when, as sometimes happens, even under the best circumstances, news of an official character becomes known. It is the duty of any who may hear such news to break the chain. This may be done by the simple method of refusing to carry the story any further. Mr. Fraser referred particularly to the necessity which exists for people in authority to preserve the utmost secrecy about communications which are made to them in the course of their official duties. It is unbelievable that important news, calculated to endanger the safety of soldiers or sailors, or to impede the successful prosecution of the war, would be divulged by responsible people, but if such dereliction of duty does not take place it is difficult to understand how some stories, subsequently proved correct, have gained currency. Mr. Fraser emphasises that too much caution cannot be exercised, especially in view of the fact that short-wave wireless can be used in a manner which was not dreamed of in the days of the Great War. In many communities there are those who, unless their conversation and general demeanour do them an injustice, would welcome victory for Germany. Such people, if aliowed theirffiberty, should certainly be denied any information which they would attempt to communicate to the enemy. This calls for the utmost vigilance on the part of those who might be led inadvertently to give away official information which has come into their possession.