HC Deb 16 March 1959 vol 602 cc3-4
2. Mr. Swingler

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken through the co-ordinated information services to secure adequate publicity for the Prime Minister's expressions of Government policy during his recent visit to Moscow, especially in overseas and Colonial Territories.

3. Mr. Rankin

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to ensure that British ideas, policies and objectives, as stated by the Prime Minister during his recent visit to Russia, are made as widely known and understood as possible.

Dr. Hill

Very wide publicity was given throughout the world to the Prime Minister's statements during his recent visit to Moscow through the many Press, broadcasting and television correspondents who were in Moscow. The full texts of the Prime Minister's speeches were also sent out by wireless, and other means, to our information posts in foreign, Colonial and Commonwealth Territories, for issue to the local Press and radio services and for publication in our official bulletins.

Mr. Swingler

Is it not the job of the Chancellor of the Duchy to emphasise some of the more novel and startling features of these pronouncements? Should he not, for example, project to Nyasaland the Prime Minister's view that imperialism is finished? Should he not project more emphatically to the United States the Prime Minister's view that no Government wants a world war, although there is danger of it breaking out by mess and muddle?

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member is going beyond his Question.

Mr. Swingler

May I be allowed to finish? Should he not project to his own side the Prime Minister's view about the industrial challenge of the Soviet Union?

Dr. Hill

The lion. Gentleman is using this Question in relation to responsibility for co-ordination of information to ask policy questions which should properly be put to one or other of my colleagues.

Mr. Rankin

In this mission which he has undertaken, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable that he should at least take that part of the Prime Minister's speech in which he told the Russians that amongst us imperialism is now dead and that we are part of a great Commonwealth of nations, and ought he not to broadcast that now to Nyasaland and Central Africa?

Dr. Hill

The hon. Gentleman is repeating the technique of his hon. Friend. Let it be simply said that the Prime Minister's speeches in Moscow received wide publicity and wide acclamation throughout the world.