HC Deb 17 July 1939 vol 350 cc11-2
13. Sir Percy Hurd

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the harmful effect upon international relations of sensational and exaggerated newspaper posters and headlines in a section of the Press; and whether, in the next of his weekly conferences with the Press, the Foreign Secretary will represent this to them with a view to discovering some remedy?

15. Sir Frank Sanderson

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of misleading newspaper placards, some- times false and frequently of a sensational character, calculated to have a detrimental effect upon our relations with foreign countries; and will he consider instructing his Department of Information to take this up with the papers responsible?

The Prime Minister

I am glad to take this opportunity of deprecating the display of posters which contain sensational, exaggerated or misleading captions, and which are calculated to give rise to unnecessary anxiety at home and undesirable reactions abroad. The same observations are not infrequently applicable to the headlines in a section of the Press. My Noble Friend through the News Department of the Foreign Office consistently draws the attention of representatives of the Press to these dangers, and I am glad to think that the proprietors and editors of newspapers in this country are aware of them and, with some exceptions, are heedful of the advice offered.

Sir P. Hurd

In regard to these exceptions, will my right hon. Friend say why the Press should not manage its own unruly members as do doctors and lawyers and other people in the professions?

The Prime Minister

I think the Press do for the most part.

Sir William Davison

Would it not be a good thing if my right hon. Friend had a personal conference with the proprietors of newspapers of this country with a view not only to the elimination of these posters, but also of a great deal of what appears in the Press which is not in the national interest?

Mr. Gallacher

Will not the Prime Minister advise these people to take note of the "Daily Worker" and publish the truth?

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