HL Deb 16 June 1953 vol 182 cc933-4

2.36 p.m.

LORD LAWSON

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the deep feelings aroused in people throughout Great Britain as the result of the showing of the Coronation Ceremony by television in America; and whether the B.B.C. authorities were aware of the fact that the Ceremony as shown would be used for purposes of advertisements, some of which were in very bad taste.]

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (EARL DE LA WARR)

My Lords, I have asked the B.B.C. for a full and detailed report, and if the noble Lord would be good enough to repeat his Question I should hope to give him a reply early next week.

LORD LAWSON

My Lords, I should like to thank the noble Earl for his Answer, and to say how pleased I am that we are to have a full and official report. We have had various statements made in the Press—some of them rather unlikeable reports—and I take it that the object is to give a full, detailed arid accurate report to the public.

EARL JOWITT

My Lords, it might be that the noble Earl would take the opportunity of making a statement on this matter at the same time as he makes a statement—if he intends to make such a statement—on the whole question of the policy here involved. He will be aware that this is a highly controversial matter on which we shall want time for discussion. I do not know whether the noble Earl can say when it will be convenient for him in the near future to make such a statement but it would help us if he could deal with this matter at the same time as the other.

EARL DE LA WARR

My Lords, perhaps I might enter into discussions with the noble and learned Earl on this point, and I will get in touch with him at the earliest possible moment.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, I should like to ask whether the noble Earl will consider not making the two statements at the same time, in that there is not necessarily any connection at all between the alleged unfortunate incident of production in the United States and Her Majesty's Government's policy, which would give full protection in this country against any such incidents.

LORD SALTOUN

My Lords, in connection with the subject matter of the Question, I should like to ask the Government whether they do not consider that the statement in The Times of the 9th instant was ample and satisfactory, if it was correct; and that if it is proved not to be correct, whether we have not plenty of friends in America to take up the matter themselves and that good feeling and propriety make this course preferable.

EARL DE LA WARR

My Lords, I have a great deal of sympathy with what the noble Lord has said. While certain lapses are to be regretted and, in fact, were nowhere more deeply regretted than in the United States, I prefer to think of the words of our Ambassador in Washington, who spoke of the American treatment of the Coronation generally as one of the most profound manifestations of sympathy and good will toward Britain that he could remember.