HC Deb 13 November 1951 vol 493 cc809-10
45. Mr. I. Mikardo

asked the Prime Minister why General Headquarters, Middle East, has banned the circulation amongst Service personnel of the "Egyptian Gazette," the only English-language newspaper published in Egypt.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Winston Churchill)

The circulation of the "Egyptian Gazette" amongst Service personal in the Canal Zone was prohibited for a period by the Commander in-Chief because it contained only Egyptian official communiqués and articles presenting the Egyptian point of view in the present dispute.

Arrangements are being made to fly in 8.000 British newspapers daily. and a British news sheet is being published. The ban on the "Egyptian Gazette" has accordingly been lifted.

Mr. Mikardo

Whilst appreciating that much of the matter in this journal was tendentious, why should it be thought that British Service personnel are less capable that other British citizens of distinguishing between truth and falsehood in the newspapers?

The Prime Minister

Here is a local paper, published in English, which is owned by an Egyptian registered company and the controlling interest among the shareholders is held by an Englishwoman resident in Alexandria. This paper has only been presenting the Egyptian side of the case, and I do not think it fair that troops should be left for several days at a time before news arrives in the papers of all the parties in this country and only receive this anti-British dope.

Mr. Henry Usborne

Is the Prime Minister able to tell the House which particular British papers are to be sent out? Further, if when the British papers go out to the Canal Zone people out there will also be able to read the. Egyptian point of view as well?

The Prime Minister

Certainly, it really would be necessary to allow that. That is why the "Egyptian Gazette" has been allowed to be circulated to the troops but, of course, the British papers sent out, from the "Daily Herald" to the "Daily Express"—from one side of politics to the other—are all in favour of the British point of view, oddly enough.