HL Deb 06 August 1942 vol 124 cc260-1
LORD DAVIES

My Lords, I beg to ask the first question standing in my name.

[The question was as follows:

To ask His Majesty's Government, what were the reasons for the failure of the B.B.C. to broadcast to Germany a recording of the remarkable speech delivered on 12th July at the Caxton Hall by Johann Fladung, who recently escaped to this country after undergoing extreme physical torture in German concentration camps as a result of his anti-Nazi activities.]

THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC WARFARE (THE EARL OF SELBORNE)

My Lords, the meeting at the Caxton Hall, which was held in connexion with the exhibition entitled "Allies inside Germany", was in fact reported to Germany on the following day. In the report it was stated that both British and German speakers had taken part. Herr Fladung was one of several speakers. In the time available, it was not possible to broadcast all these speeches, and it was therefore decided to give an account of the meeting rather than to record any single speech.

LORD DAVIES

Arising out of that reply may I ask the noble Earl whether some further opportunity will be given to this man to broadcast?

THE EARL OF SELBORNE

I will see that that suggestion of my noble friend is conveyed to the Minister of Information.

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