HC Deb 05 February 1941 vol 368 cc923-4
26. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Minister of Information, whether he will take the necessary steps to have translated into as many foreign languages as possible the six addresses broadcast by Sir Robert Vansittart; and whether he will ask the British Broadcasting Corporation to broadcast them in those languages?

The Minister of Information (Mr. Duff Cooper)

No, Sir. To broadcast the addresses in question in the manner proposed by my hon. Friend would suggest to listeners abroad that they possessed an official character. This, as explained by the Prime Minister on 28th January, is not the case.

Mr. Benson

Will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to bury this extraordinarily crude production?

Mr. Kenneth Lindsay

Will my right hon. Friend make it clear that these ideas do not represent the ideas of the whole British public?

Sir W. Smithers

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many people think the Minister of Information should show a little wider vision, and will he bear in mind that the broadcast of these speeches abroad would have a wonderful effect on our war effort?

Mr. Noel-Baker

Would the right hon. Gentleman recall the message to the German people broadcast by Mr. Neville Chamberlain on 3rd September, 1939?