§ 1 Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that issue No. 93 of the official Army publication, called "World Press Review," circulating in the Middle East and Persia-Iraq Commands, contains serious libels on the Soviet Union, personal insults to Marshal Stalin, and allegations that Marshal Stalin had insulted this country; whether he will now put a stop to this sort of conduct which is calculated to injure relations between the two countries; and whether he will make available to the House copies of all issues of this publication in order that some check may be kept on it?
Sir J. Griģģ"World Press Review" contains no original matter, but only reprints from articles from the world's Press. Articles reflecting a wide range of views are reproduced, including articles from the Press of the Allies as well as from the Press of this country. A recent issue included an article from the "Daily Worker." But it is not unlikely that other articles have been reproduced reflecting opinions with which the hon. Member does not agree. "World Press Review" is obtainable by subscription only, and no one need read it unless he likes. The fact that an article is selected for reproduction in no way gives official approval of or recognition to the opinions which it contains. In any case I understand that steps have been taken in the Minister of State's Office in the Middle East to exercise some supervision from the point of view of policy over such publications as this.
§ Mr. PrittWould the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the Question, as to whether he will put copies in the House so that we may see them?
Sir J. GriģģThis is the only copy I have but I will certainly put a copy of this particular issue in the Library.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs this an official publication or not? Is it under the supervision of the War Office? If it is, is it desirable that allegations should be made against an ally?
Sir J. GriģģIt is no more desirable that that should be done than that in Russian official publications there should be allegations against this country.
§ Mr. ShinwellAre we to understand that because it is alleged that allegations have been made about this country by official Soviet publications, we claim the right to allow allegations to be made against Soviet Russia? Does the Minister accept responsibility for this?
Sir J. GriģģNot in the slightest degree. This is a publication produced for soldiers in the Middle East, where there is extremely little reading matter. Representative selections from the foreign Press are published in it. As I said—and I do not think the hon. Member could have listened to me—I have arranged that the Minister 686 of State in Cairo shall in the near future exercise some supervision from the point of view of policy over these publications.
Mr. Quintin HoģģIs my right hon. Friend aware that the wide range of controversial opinions of all sorts contained in this publication are highly popular with the troops in the Middle East, who will greatly resent any attempt to limit or censor them in any way?
Sir J. GriģģI have always assumed that British soldiers are quite capable of judging for themselves.
§ Mr. PrittDid the right hon. Gentleman mean, in answer to an earlier Supplementary Question, in which he referred to the Soviet Union, that he would not have allowed this libel to have been published if he had approved of what the Soviet Press said about this country, but because he disapproved he had allowed it?
Sir J. GriģģNot at all. There are two inferences to be drawn from my answer. If I had edited this Review, I would not have put in that particular article. The second thing is—if the hon. and learned Member will allow me to deliver an exhortation to him—that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.