§ 16. Mr. Prittasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the papers "Freiheit" and "Neue Volkszeitung" were banned in the British zone at the time of the municipal elections in October, 1948,' on the ground of breaches of Directive No. 40 (2b) of the regulations, which forbids the publication of rumours aimed at undermining the unity of the Allies or creating distrust or a hostile attitude towards the occupying Powers, whilst the majority of the British-licensed Press in the zone incessantly breaks that directive in its attacks on the U.S.S.R. without being banned.
§ Mr. MayhewThe entire British-licensed Press is, in accordance with the instructions issued to it, free to criticise both the Western and the Soviet occupying Powers, provided that this criticism is fair and objective and is not a deliberate distortion of the facts. Action was taken against the two Communist papers because they published false and malicious statements solely designed to inspire hostility against certain of the occupying Powers.