§ 63. Mr. Stokesasked the Minister of Information whether the article on tanks published in the "Sunday Pictorial" of 31st October, 1943, stating that the A 22 with 6 lb. gun out-gunned and was a better tank than the German Tiger equipped with 88 mm. gun firing a 28 lb. shot, was submitted to the censor before publication.
§ Mr. BrackenYes, Sir. An article to this effect was submitted to the Censor. I need hardly remind the hon. Gentleman that the censor had no responsibility for any of the statements made in this article.
§ Mr. StokesDoes my right hon. Friend think it fair to the fighting soldier that he should be misrepresented in this way in a British newspaper?
§ Mr. BrackenNo, Sir. But the hon. Gentleman's suggestion really is that newspapers should be edited by the censors. I believe in free speech, and I would not allow censors to edit newspapers.
§ Mr. StokesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that great resentment was felt by fighting soldiers because of this article, which had passed the censorship?
§ Mr. BrackenThis very severe attack on the "Sunday Pictorial" will be greatly resented by that paper, which has so staunchly supported my hon. Friend.