§ 5. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps have been taken to counter Egyptian propaganda in the Middle East.
§ Mr. Ian HarveyApart from the daily work of Her Majesty's Missions and their information officers in the area, who refute untruthful statements and expound the policy and attitude of Her Majesty's Government, there are daily broadcasts from Cyprus in Arabic on both short and medium wave, the latter having been made possible by the requisitioning of the facilities of the Near East Arab Broadcasting Station. These broadcasts include the British Broadcasting Corporation Arabic Service, which is also radiated on short wave direct from this country.
As was recently announced in another place, Her Majesty's Government now propose to acquire the Near East Arab Broadcasting Station from its owners and have also asked the British Broadcasting Corporation to step up its Arabic Service from 4½ to 9 hours a day.
§ Captain PilkingtonWhile these measures seem to be satisfactory, can my hon. Friend assure the House that all steps will be taken to counter the propaganda which is as untruthful now as Hitler's was, and of which a recent 893 example has been Colonel Nasser's treatment of what has happened in the Aden Protectorate?
§ Mr. HarveyYes, certainly.
§ Mr. EdeIs the stepping up of 4½ hours to 9 hours for this particular piece of broadcasting to be made at the expense of other broadcasts, or is it really additional?
§ Mr. HarveyIt is an immediate addition. As was announced on another occasion, the whole of these services are at the moment under review.