§ 10. Mr. Piratinasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the radio station in Cyprus, run by the Foreign Office Information Department, has been encouraging the Arabs in their invasion of Palestine; that on 28th May it called on the Arabs to be ready to occupy Haifa; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BevinI have seen a monitoring report of a broadcast by the Near East Arabic Broadcasting Service speculating on possible Arab military activity. This station is not run by the Foreign Office Information Department, nor has the Governor of Cpyrus any responsibility for it.
§ Mr. PiratinCan the Foreign Secretary say whether this radio station broadcasts announcements of this kind?
§ Mr. BevinI have already said I have seen a monitoring report of what it broadcast, but that is not under my control.
§ Mr. PiratinDoes that report confirm these particular statements?
§ Mr. BevinI saw one statement which I thought was rather unwise, but then there are a lot more broadcasts which I think are equally unwise.
§ Wing-Commander HulbertWho operates this station?
§ Mr. PickthornCan the Foreign Secretary tell us by whom it is licensed and what is the juridical nature of this body?
§ Mr. BevinIt operated in Palestine, and for technical reasons it was removed to Cyprus. The people who have been operating are the same people who operated it for years in Palestine.
§ Mr. PiratinI give notice that I will put down a Question to the Secretary of State for the Colonies asking why this station is in Cyprus.