HC Deb 01 February 1944 vol 396 cc1102-4
6. Sir Stanley Reed

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the estimated cost of producing the daily paper SEAC, published in Calcutta for the South East Asia Command; the Government to which this expense will be charged; the reasons for producing a new daily newspaper when there are daily papers in Calcutta, Madras and Ceylon; and the grounds for promoting a second-lieutenant to brigadier-general as editor of SEAC.

Sir J. Grigg

As far as can be ascertained at this stage this paper will pay for itself. The ordinary Indian newspapers which in the main are produced for residents in India do not provide the type of news, particularly local home news, which the troops are anxious to have. It was therefore decided to fill this want by the production of a newspaper on the lines of the very successful Eighth Army publications and I understand that this paper, which is at present only sold east of the Bramaputra, has proved to be very popular with the troops. On the last part of my hon. Friend's Question I would refer him to a reply I gave last Tuesday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South East Essex (Flight-Lieut. Raikes).

Sir S. Reed

Would it not be very much better for the British and American Forces serving in this command to get some knowledge of the country in which they are serving, which they can only get from the regular daily Press?

Sir J. Grigg

I imagine that living in the country they will get a pretty good idea of it without recourse to the daily Press.

Major C. S. Taylor

Has this second lieutenant been given the acting or local rank of brigadier?

Sir J. Grigg

That has nothing to do with the Question. I said that I had been definitely informed that he had no local rank and that his substantive rank and his complete rank is that of second lieutenant.

Mr. Driberg

Is it not rather curious that there should be this apparent vendetta against a young officer who is as admirably suited to do this work as Mr. Owen is?

Sir Irving Albery

Would it not be better to release an officer from the Army altogether if he is to act as editor of a newspaper?