PROPAGANDA WARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 8

PROPAGANDA WARS

Italy's sharp action to mark her disapproval of the hostile attitude taken by "most of the British press" comes at an unfortunate moment. Signor Mussolini will forfeit a good deal of sympathy he might otherwise have retained by his studied 'slight of the Coronation. It is deplorable that the British Crown should be brought into international politics in this way. But, apart from the unfortunate choice of an occasion, it ismore than time that pointed attention was drawn to the dangers of the propaganda wars that are being waged in some countries against others. In certain cases vituperation has gone to such lengths as to call for official protests and official apologies. The constant risk is that nations may fall from words to blows. A puzzling feature is that those who profess to be most earnest for peace are the most unsparing in the epithets hurled at nations they dislike for one reason or another. Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, recently drew attention to the irresponsibility of these people. " Our Labour opponents," he said, "are too fond of compelling other nation's in Europe to listen to flouts and gibes and jeers, and almost insults, which can have no other effect than to produce angry feeling, and possibly lead to unintended consequences." Sir Thomas added that the logical conclusion was to arm against the outbreak likely to be provoked, but this Labour critics were unwilling to do. His is not the only voice raised lately in warning against the explosive forces of international propaganda. The new damage done to Anglo-Italian relations is but one case in point. Pugnacious pacifists and others should remember that peace will never prosper in an atmosphere thick with mutual recriminations.