HC Deb 20 June 1940 vol 362 cc239-40
50. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore

asked the Prime Minister the channel through which it is proposed to issue communiques about naval operations in the Mediterranean; and how many British authorities on the spot or here are entitled to issue any communiques about the progress of the war with Italy?

Mr. Attlee

Naval communiques are normally issued by the Admiralty, but the Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, has discretionary authority to make public communiques immediately. So far as the Army is concerned, the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief has been authorised to issue his own communiques. News of military operations in all other theatres of war will be issued centrally by the War Office. For air communiques the normal authority is the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, R.A.F. Middle East, but the local commanders may at their discretion publish information which they consider should be made known immediately. The South African Government issue independent communiques from Pretoria.

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