HC Deb 27 September 1939 vol 351 cc1329-30
39. Colonel Arthur Evans

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information whether he is aware that on 5th September an English-language newspaper, published in Paris, printed a message as coming from London and as being sent by Havas, the official French news agency, stating that London and the North of England had been bombed; that two days later the Paris "Soir" published a graphic account of an air fight over the River Thames; and whether there is any machinery of liaison between the British and French Ministries of Information which will enable the French authorities to check up the facts with, the British before approving of their publicasion in papers published in France?

Sir E. Grigg

My Noble Friend cannot, of course, accept any responsibility for the reports in question. According to hisinformation, however, the report mentioned, as sent by the Havas agency, related only to an air-raid warning. In reply to the last part of the question, a liaison officer of the Ministry was, in fact, sent to Paris on 12th of this month, and arrangements are in contemplation for further strengthening the liaison arrangements.