HC Deb 02 May 1951 vol 487 cc1166-7
23. Mr. Ian Winterbottom

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the conference of information officials of North Atlantic Treaty Governments, which met in London on 14th April.

Mr. H. Morrison

The decision to hold this conference was taken by the North Atlantic Council Deputies on 8th March. The conference, which was of officials from the Governments of the North Atlantic Powers, took place on 12th, 13th and 14th April. It reached agreement on a number of technical and practical problems concerning the exchange of factual information regarding the objectives of the North Atlantic Treaty and the activities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Information Service and individual Governments with a view to its wider dissemination by all possible means in the member countries.

Mr. Winterbottom

Is it intended that, as a result of this conference, a political warfare department of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation will be set up to replace the reduced information services of the B.B.C. and other organisations?

Mr. Morrison

No, Sir. It is not intended that an organisation such as that described by my hon. Friend should be set up by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Colonel J. R. H. Hutchison

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise the importance of educating public opinion in satellite countries and European countries about what goes on behind the Iron Curtain, which can only be done by some organisation analogous to P.W.E.?

Mr. Morrison

I fully appreciate that, but I am not sure that this will be the appropriate organisation to father it. I think it is best that in such activities each country should conduct its own operations, although, of course, there can be consultation between them.

Mr. R. A. Butler

May I take it that the right hon. Gentleman's answer does not preclude the setting up of such a department but rather encourages it?

Mr. Morrison

I was not discouraging the idea, but I did not think that this was quite the channel for it.