HC Deb 28 November 1946 vol 430 cc1757-9
16. Mr. Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding recent security measures taken against threats of terrorists.

Mr. Ede

It would not be in the public interest to disclose the nature of the precautions which have been taken against attempts to commit outrages in this country.

Mr. Janner

Would my right hon. Friend say whether he does not deprecate the very serious and sensational publicity that was given to this matter generally; and will he also say whether he is satisfied that Jewish communities condemn terrorism entirely?

Mr. Ede

In reply to the first part of the supplementary question, I think that a very great deal of unnecessary and false sensationalism was introduced into this matter by very wide sections of the Press. I am quite convinced that the overwhelming majority of Jews throughout the world deprecate the action that a very limited number have taken.

Mr. Gallacher

Will the Minister tell the House who is responsible for starting this highly sensational and utterly unfounded story?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. If I could, I should be in the nature of a Secret Service agent more efficient than any who has ever existed.

Major Legge-Bourke

Will the Minister bear in mind the possibility of the cause of this publicity being the fact that His Majesty's Government will not give any information about what they are doing?

Mr. Ede

A member of the Press came to see me and asked whether I would tell him in confidence what I intended to do. It is quite clear that if I take anyone into my confidence about this matter I shall defeat the object of such precautionary measures as I am able to take.

21. Mr. Piratin

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the petition forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Mile End, signed by workers in a factory in his constituency, asking that the Government should investigate cases of national newspapers spreading false and irresponsible stories about alleged activities of Stern Gang terrorists in this country; and what action he proposes to take to stop this anti-Semitic propaganda.

Mr. Ede

I have read the petition and the newspaper stories in question. My impression is that the object of these stories was the creation of a sensation rather than political propaganda; and there is no action for me to take beyond expressing condemnation of the publication of sensational stories calculated to create unnecessary alarm and to give an unbalanced view of the situation.

Mr. Piratin

While thanking the Home Secretary for that statement, which will undoubtedly alleviate in some measure what has already been done, may I ask why his Department or one of his public relations officers—I assume he has one— has not taken steps to refute the statement made in the national Press on the question I have asked him? Would he now consider issuing such a statement, not disclosing what steps the Home Secretary is taking in the matter, but saying precisely what the situation is with regard to these terrorists, so that the world may know the position?

Mr. Ede

No, Sir. I think the questions and answers in this House today will give sufficient publicity to the view that His Majesty's Government take on the matter.