BIRTHDAY GREETING TO ITALIAN KING

Southland Times, Issue 24592, 14 November 1941, Page 5

BIRTHDAY GREETING TO ITALIAN KING

GOVERNMENT DISAPPROVAL

(Rec. 8.50 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 12. The Parliamentary correspondent of The Times says that the Minister of Information, Mr Brendan Bracken, will be questioned in Parliament concerning the birthday greeting to the King of Italy in the British Broadcasting Corporation’s service. It is understood the Government has dissociated itself from the broadcast and regards it as a surprising and regrettable indiscretion. The British Broadcasting Corporation authorities, who do not seem to have been consulted, appear to share the Government’s view and disciplinary action may be taken.

Birthday greetings to the King of Italy were broadcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the anniversaries feature. The broadcaster was Christopher Stone, who, after the greeting, added: *T do not think any of us wish him anything but good, poor soul.”

A British Broadcasting Corporation official who was interviewed said: ‘‘lt must be understood that this is not the type of message we would permit to be sent to Hitler or Mussolini.”