Condemns B.B.C. Policy

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1943, Page 4

Condemns 8.8. C. Policy

LONDON, April 3.

“We question the authority of the E.B.C. and Minister for Information to conserve the right of expression through the 8.8. C. for Government members and ‘ yds-men ’ from various political parties,” said Mr McGovern (Ind. Labour Party) in the-House of Commons attacking 8.8. C. propaganda. “We get this one-sided hash which shows complete lack of faith in the democratic situation. Those selected to put over talks on religious matters are what I might call safe, patriotic men, the sort of people who praise 3000 lb. bombs and hope they do God’s work. No religious expression is allowed that contradicts the idea of the State waging war.

“It is a remarkable thing that the E.B.C. states in medical talks that all' foods which are difficult,.to obtain have no food value, whereas rubbishy substitutes are stated to be of great value. This shows how the medical profession can adapt requirements to political needs, supporting the Government which is waging war.” Mr McGovern added that abominable things were constantly said over the German radio about Jews, but no Jew was allowed to reply over the 8.8. C.

“One hears the Dean of Canterbury and others protesting, but this is part of the general exploitation of the suffering of these people for the purposes of fighting the war.”

Mr McGovern said that the manner in which speakers gloated over the massacre of Germans from the air has caused a revulsion among decent people. “We can only say now that all the moral protests against the bombing of London arose because we had insufficient planes. Once we got them, moral objections went into the limbo. “This totalitarian radio instrument is being wielded for the benefit of the Government at the Prime Minister’s’ dictation. Everybody seems afraid to face up to this individual. He appoints in every phase of public life, those who can be depended on to carry out his wishes in every phase of political dictatorship. The radio should be of every viewpoint and unless the a national instrument for propagation 8.8. C. is radically changed, we will go headlong into the Continent’s mistake.” But It Does A Good Job Since the war started Britain, unlike Germany, has never been off the air, declared the Minister for Information (Mr Brendan Bracken) in the House of Commons today, replying to the debate on the 8.8. C. It was believed that the 8.8. C. had between 20,000,000 and 35,000.000 listeners in Europe. Any big news story it put out was known to most people in Western Europe, excluding Germany, within three hours.