GOVERNMENT AND PRESS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 149, 13 March 1918, Page 5

GOVERNMENT AND PRESS

STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD

GEORGE

NEWSPAPER MEN'S QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROPAGANDA WORK

ATTACKS NOT INSPIRED BY PREMIER'S STAFF

(Rec. March 12, 8 p.m.)

London, March 11,

In tho House of Commons, replying to Mr. A. Chamberlain, tho Premier, Mr. Lloyd George, disagreed with the contention that owners and directors of newspapers should not hold Ministerial offices. Lord Northcliffo held 110 Ministerial office, while Lord Rothermere and Lord Beaverbrook gave up' all direction of their papers as soon as they wero appointed Ministers. Lord Rothermere had already reorganised an important Department of the War Office. His administration of that Department was an unqualified success. Lord Beaverbrook nad organised Canadian propaganda, which was most successful. Tho Premier emphasised the importance of propaganda, which the enemy had used with deadly effect in Russia and Italy. Lord Northcljffo had made a special study of conditions in the enemy countries. No man better qualified to direct propaganda in the enemy countries could bo found in tho British Empire. Tho Government propaganda in all the other Allied countries and in Germany was conducted almost exclusively by experienced newspaper mon, and despite tho inevitable prejudices the Government apprehended might bo excited, they concluded they must follow that example, _ as tho only means of securing an effective presentation of tho Allied cause. His olio object in this, as in all other Government appointments, was to secure the men best qualified to do the work efficiently. Ho reiterated that ho was in nowise responsible for tho attacks on admirals and gonerals. It had been suggested that a member of his staff had inspired such attacks. He had thoroughly investigated the matter, and unhesitatingly declared that the imputation was utterly unfounded and unjust. . . . , Mr. Chamberlain said' tho principles laid down by Mr. Lloyd George were satisfactory, but there was too much coincidence between nowspaper attacks on Government servants and removals of the latter. Ho regretted that the Premier had not mado a clean-cut statement, and swept forever the atmosphere of suspicion and intrigue. I Mr. Asquith deplored organised Press campaigns in war time against soldiers and sailors, the first of which was against the late Lord Kitchener, which Mr. Asquith felt most keenly, and consequently advised the King to bestow the Order of the Garter on Lord Kitchener at tho earliest opportunity, and His Majesty did so. It was of the utmost importance that the Government shoiild be free from suspicion of direct association with the operations of the Press, therefore he advocated that the Propaganda Department should bo absolutely water-tight, without any influence on'the policy of the Government. . ' Mr. Lloyd George, m winding up the debate, accepted the fundamental principles laid down by Mr. Asquith. He said that after his explanation there had been no real challenge of the action of the Government. He conclud: ed with a tribute to Lord Northcliffo from tho standpoint of the news organisation as a man of genius and one of tho greatost nows organisers of tho ■ world.—Routor.