§ 15. Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that censors attached to S.H.A.E.F. have recently been given instructions to pass those communications from front line war correspondents which state that allied progress has been good; and whether he will take steps to see that, within the bounds of military security, war correspondents are free to send to their papers information free from propaganda content.
§ Sir J. GriggThe answer to the first part of the Question is "No, Sir." The matter is, of course, one for the Supreme Allied Commander, but I understand that the copy of war correspondents is censored for military security only, and that at no time have S.H.A.E.F. censors received instructions that they should be influenced by considerations of propaganda in the course of their censorship duty.
§ Mr. StraussIs my right hon. Friend aware that the allegation contained in the first part of my Question was made by responsible war correspondents, who passed the information on to London papers, in which it was printed; and may we take it from his reply that these statements which were printed in the London papers were incorrect, and that the war correspondents were misinformed?
§ Sir J. GriggI can only give the hon. Member the information which I derive from S.H.A.E.F. If he wishes me to inquire into particular allegations, I certainly will do so, but the only course open to me is to send them to the Supreme Commander.