§ 45. Mr. Piratinasked the Prime Minister whether he will state the measures which His Majesty's Government is taking in order to implement the resolution of the Political Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, condemning all forms of war propaganda.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Attlee)No special measures are necessary since His Majesty's Government's policy entirely conforms with the request contained in the resolution referred to by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. PiratinThe resolution of the United Nations Assembly special committee on this matter refers not only to the policy of Governments but to the administration of Governments in ensuring that no war-mongering was pursued by individuals within their countries and, therefore, may I ask the Prime Minister particularly whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made by Bertrand Russell, in which he calls for atomic bomb warfare on Russia before they have the bomb; and what steps he has taken to prevent this war-mongering?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member is mistaken. This resolution was an amendment to a resolution put forward as a Soviet draft which involved censorship measures which are not applicable in democratic countries.
§ Mr. Langford-HoltCould the Prime Minister draw his hon. Friend's attention to the fact that deeds, and not words, are the most vicious form of warmongering?
§ Mr. WarbeyIn view of the damage which can be done by such reckless statements as those referred to, will my right hon. Friend look into the possibility of making the advocacy of aggressive war a criminal offence?
§ The Prime MinisterI cannot accept these statements made by my hon. Friend and I am not prepared to put in the censorship measures. I may say that some of those who are pressing this matter would probably be the first to suffer.