§ 32. Captain Longhurstasked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that many newspapers in South Africa carry the pictorial supplement "United Pictorial News," issued by the U.S. Office of War Information; and whether any comparable supplements are issued by his Ministry to give similar publicity in South Africa to the British war effort.
§ Mr. BrackenI understand that the "United Pictorial News" is carried only by a number of the small country newspapers in South Africa. The Ministry of Information sends out there nothing on these lines. But feature articles and photographs are despatched for distribution by the High Commissioner's Office to the large as well as to the small newspapers. Pamphlets and other material illustrating the war effort of the United Kingdom are also despatched on a considerable scale. I do not know whether my hon. and gallant Friend reads the 1373 South African Press but if he does he will see that all the great newspapers give a very adequate presentation of the United Kingdom war effort.
§ Captain LonghurstWould it not be a good idea to combat this, I will not call it propaganda, by a similar method from here, so that we get a quid pro quo in the matter?
§ Mr. BrackenI do not know what the hon. and gallant Gentleman means. We have our own publicity methods and the Americans have theirs, and it is not for me to judge which is better.