CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 24 June 1937, Page 8

CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS

ATTITUDE OF ITALY OUTLINED “EQUILIBRIUM AND PROPRIETY” Italy’s attitude towards' press censorship was outlined by Mr Dino Alfieri, Minister of Press and Propaganda in the Chamber of Deputies, in Rome recently, says the “New York Times.” “Fascism has no use for the licence that permits the press in some countries to betray national interests or favour the interests of groups or factions,” said Mr Alfieri. “It is natural that countries experiencing a change, of the party in pow er every few months should have a iou' ualism as varied as their political parties It is equally natural that each party -for the brief period it remains in power should consent to the others’ I' - ire whereby it hopes to profit as soon as it is thrown out of office.”

SCOPE FOR FAILURE

The Italian press, Mr Alfieri said, how ever, is encouraged in every way to dis play initiative. The press operates on two fronts, one internal and the other foreign.

“On the foreign front,” the Minister declared, “the press registers even the slightest vibrations of world public opin ion and supports the government’s ac tion, especially when it is a matter of defending national interests in internation al polemics. On the internal front the press is the vanguard of our revolutionary advance, because its task is to illustrate the Fascist regime's achievements in all fields, from the social to the economic from the artistic to the political.” Fascist journalism, Mr Alfieri added, is sometimes criticised on the grounds that “it is not amusing because it is moral, it is not varied because it eschews scandal, and it is monotonous because it does not lose itself in futilities.” Mr Alfieri said these criticisms were condemned by the very way in which they were formulated.

“To a journalism seeking variety in scandal, in exciting the least noble passions, and in satisfying unhealthy curios, ity, we prefer- -and we pride ourselves on it—our own type of journalism, whose equilibrium and propriety is proof of the Italians’ fundamental sanity.” Speaking of foreign journalism, Mr Alfieri declared :

“Fascism is undisturbed by discussions or even criticisms, and does not seek to escape from a conflict of ideas, especially when that conflict is carried on in good faith, but it cannot tolerate deformations of trust and systematic falsehoods.

“This is why, when certain newspap. ers and certain countries at periodical intervals launch their offensives against Italy, not hesitating to invent the basest lies, the Italian press, as its right and its duty, reacts with vivacity and even violence, which is justified by its lofty comprehension of national dignity and honour.”