§ 41. Mr. Granvilleasked the Minister of Information whether he will consider the setting up of a special "V" department of political warfare to co-operate with the allied Governments and the Soviet information bureau, for the purpose of fostering anti-Nazi and anti-Quisling propaganda in the occupied territories; and further, whether he will consider the regular use of the morse letter "V" as the time signal for all foreign broadcasts?
§ Mr. ThurtleMy right hon. Friend does not think that additional machinery is required to achieve the purpose the hon. Member has in view. As regards the second part of the Question, the "V" morse signal has already been introduced as the interval signal for the European Service of the B.B.C.
§ Mr. GranvilleWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that the "V" campaign abroad may be the best opportunity we have had of smashing the Goebbels propaganda machine on the Continent; and can he say whether there is the closest co-operation between the Russian Information Bureau, Allied Governments and the Ministry of Information, and whether Colonel Britton has full power and authority to make this campaign a success?
§ Mr. ThurtleI am afraid I am not in a position to give an answer to the detailed points made by the hon. Member, but I can assure him that the Ministry is fully sympathetic to this "V" campaign, which it regards as a sort of "Lift up your heart" signal to the oppressed peoples of Europe.