HC Deb 19 December 1956 vol 562 cc154-5W
70. Mr. J. B. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many representatives of the foreign Press were invited to the showing of the Central Office of Information's film on Port Said on 13th December, 1956; and why the normal procedure for issuing such invitations was not followed on this occasion.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The Central Office of Information films on the allied action at Port Said were shown to Commonwealth and foreign Press correspondents on 12th December. Eighty correspondents were invited. There is no record of the Foreign Office having previously arranged a film show for representatives of the overseas Press and there is, consequently, no "normal procedure."

71. Mr. J. B. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now deleted from the Central Office of Information's film on Port Said the sequence which misrepresents certain foreign newspapers, to which attention was drawn at the showing of the film to representatives of the foreign Press on 13th December, 1956.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

I have received no complaints about the misrepresentation of foreign newspapers in these films, except for that made by the hon. Member in his next Question.

72. Mr. J. B. Hynd

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Central Office of Information's film of Port Said represents a copy of the German newspaper Tagesspiegel as attacking Her Majesty's Government when in fact, its protest was directed against the Soviet aggression in Hungary; and whether he will cut this sequence from the film in response to the protests made.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

The sequence concerned, which includes a large number of newspapers, is intended to portray the breadth as well as the character of foreign opinion. I do not believe that the way in which the newspaper is filmed and the short length of time that it is on the screen could give rise to any real misapprehension. I am nevertheless looking into the possibility of amending the sequence, but I can give no undertaking that this will be possible.