HC Deb 16 May 1944 vol 400 cc7-8
11. Captain Longhurst

asked the Secretary of State for War in what capacity Mr. William Connor, formerly writer of the "Daily Mirror" column signed "Cassandra," is now serving in His Majesty's Army.

Sir J. Grigg

He is employed with the British Army newspaper unit in Naples, and works for the Army newspaper "Union Jack."

Captain Longhurst

Does not my right hon. Friend think it rather extraordinary that a man whose writings Are described by a former Home Secretary as being subversive to the war effort, and which were the material cause of the "Daily Mirror" being warned in 1941, should he writing the same sort of thing in the Army?

Sir J. Grigg

I think the whole question is begged by the last phrase in the supplementary. He is not writing the same sort of thing, and the senior officers on the spot have made no complaint about his work.

Mr. Austin Hopkinson

Is Mr. Frank Owen still writing, in the Far East, the same sort of thing that he used to write in the "Sunday Express"?

Mr. Bellenger

Has my right hon. Friend read the articles which Mr. Connor is writing in "Union jack," which are certainly not subversive, but quite the contrary? They help to improve the morale of the troops out there.

Sir J. Grigg

I think that that is covered by my last remarks.

Mr. Pritt

Will the right hon. Gentleman not get a few more journalists into the Army?