HC Deb 24 April 1940 vol 360 cc220-1W
Mr. Levy

asked the Minister of Information whether he is aware that German photographs designed to show the activity and successes of the Germans are being published freely in the United States of America, while none of the activities of the British forces are appearing; to what extent this is due to the British censorship; and whether he will relax the censorship and ensure that this country is not left in the lurch in this important pictorial publicity.

Sir J. Reith

Between the end of hostilities in Poland and the invasion of Norway, the number of Allied photographs appearing in the American Press was, on the average, at least four times as great as the number of German, and by the end of this period was even greater. But when the Germans invaded Scandinavia they had the initial advantage which falls to the aggressor with plans prepared beforehand and were able to secure photographs and send them to America ahead of ours. Whatever Scandinavian photographs of an operational nature are available are transmitted to the United States without delay and none have been stopped by censorship.

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