§ Mr. Prittasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the "Readers' Digest," which is distributed to the Navy at the public expense, contained in its issues for January and February, 1945, articles purporting to contain unique revelations of life in the Soviet Union, Which were in fact full of libel and calumny against our Allies and were calculated to injure relations between the two peoples and whether he will take steps to circulate truthful accounts of life in the Soviet Union to repair the harm thus done.
Mr. AlexanderI have read the articles to which the hon. Member refers. While critical in several aspects they appear to recognise Russian achievements in others. It will be appreciated that the Admiralty could not undertake to censor opinions1412W expressed in the journals which are distributed free to the Fleet for recreational purposes. With regard to the second part of the Question, I do not think any special action is called for. The range of the periodicals is wide, and the officers and men of the Fleet can no doubt be left to form their own balanced view of the truth from the variety of information and opinions which they are likely to find on any important subject of general interest within this range, and in the reading matter which they obtain for themselves.