§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why, although such a licence could be granted without increasing the allocation of newsprint, displaced Poles in the British zone of Germany cannot receive a licence to print a single newspaper; and why, in spite of the encouragement given to make an application for a newspaper licence, the application was rejected when made.
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§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Secretary of State for War why, in the British zone of occupation in Germany, where there are approximately 100,000 displaced Poles, only one Polish paper, "Slowo Polskie," issued by the Polish Repatriation Mission and having a strong Communist bias, is licensed by the British authorities, while permission to publish a paper for the displaced Poles, giving unbiassed news, was first promised and then withheld by the British occupational authorities; and why, in view of the regulation in Western Germany that no paper may issue more than one copy for five persons, "Slowo Polskie" issued twice the permitted amount.
§ Mr. MayhewI assume that these Questions refer to the newspaper "Noviny," which the Polish Central Advisory Council recently asked to be published. I am not aware that the Poles were encouraged to make this application. This paper was formerly published by the Polish Armoured Division and its circulation was forbidden in Polish displaced persons camps because it contained undesirable matter. Any application for publication of a newspaper fulfilling the necessary conditions will be carefully considered. "Slowo Polskie" has been allowed to issue 30,000 copies instead of the 20,000 which would be allowed under the informal arrangement on the circulation of displaced persons' newspapers, because the Poles are so scattered.