§ 14. Commander Bowerasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that German reports to the effect that the British were withdrawing from Greece, that the Admiralty had ordered the Greek navy to escort the withdrawing transports, and other false reports were widely circulated by the German and German-occupied wireless stations, and remained uncontradicted by our wireless for nearly 24 hours, with the result that they gained widespread credence abroad; and whether he will state the reason for the delay in countering these damaging falsehoods?
Mr. CooperI am aware that at the beginning of last week the Germans circulated numerous reports from a variety of sources to the effect that Imperial Forces were evacuating Greece. I am not aware that such reports gained widespread credence abroad. They were rapidly disproved by the fighting that followed. It would be a mistake to issue an official denial of every false report which the enemy put into circulation, since if we were to do so the lack of a denial would be taken as confirmation.
§ Commander BowerIs there not considerable evidence that these particular reports did gain credence, and in fact took in a very prominent American journalist in Ankara who is by no means noted for his pro-Axis leanings?
Mr. CooperI do not think they gained widespread credence. It is impossible to gauge the reliability placed upon them by individuals.