§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to the uneasiness caused by the broadcast news at 7 a.m., on Friday 16th August, which, through a misleading paraphrase of an official report from Croydon to the Regional Commissioner forwarded at 10.22 p.m. on the previous evening, created a false impression as to the casualties resulting from the air raid on Croydon; and why no steps were taken to correct this false impression?
Mr. CooperThat part of the news broadcast at 7 a.m. on Friday, 16th August, dealing with the air raid on Croydon was an accurate rendering of a communiqué issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security. The hon. Member telephoned to the B.B.C. which in consequence put his complaint to the Ministry of Home Security. As a result, an alteration was made in the 8 a.m. news and a further statement on this subject, issued by the Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security, was broadcast in the 6 p.m. news. I cannot therefore agree that no steps were taken to correct the false impression given by the earlier report.
Colonel A. Evansasked the Minister of Information whether his attention has been drawn to the complaint of American news agencies to the effect that British communiqués, particularly those relating to air battles, are slow in forthcoming as compared with those of the enemy, who broadcast a running commentary on the alleged progress of the attack and 1333W generally manage to tell their story first, which plays on the world's imagination without a single denial or correction from British sources; and whether he will take steps to deal with this matter so that a wrong impression will not be given to the American public through a practice of undue silence on our part calculated to cause doubt and apprehension?
Mr. CooperYes, Sir, I am aware of these complaints, but it must be borne in mind, that so far as recent air raids on this country are concerned, the German propagandists have had two considerable advantages: first, a previous knowledge of when the raid was to take place, and secondly, complete disregard for the truth. This enabled them to begin sending false accounts of the battle to America be fore their machines actually reached this country. However, I am arranging, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Air and the Minister of Home Security, to accelerate the despatch of news, and I am glad to say that the Press messages went through more rapidly on the occasion of last Sunday's air raids.