PROPAGANDA OVER THE AIR

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 162, 27 July 1937, Page 8

PROPAGANDA OVER THE AIR

-Presa Aesociation.)

B.B.C. Will Ignore German and Italian Efforts MISCHIEVOUS REP0RTS

(By T«leer»ph-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. . Mischievous and misleading reportt were responsible for the statement that the main reason for his visit to varioui parts of the Empire was to find ways of counteracting the subversive propaganda over German and Italian shortwave stations/ said Mr. J. Beresford Claris, Director of the B.B.C. Empire Service, who arrived on the Mariposa. He said it was not the intention of the B.B.C. to indulge in a radio war for supremacy over European countries. ''There has been a lot of nonsensu talked about my trip," said Mr. Clark, "and as recently as last week an Australian ' weekly paper published an article which attempted to show that the British authorities were agitated about foreign propaganda among -Empire listeners and would take appropriate steps lo combat it. The paper went to the length of saying that the majority of Australians invariably tuned their sets to a German station. "Actually in the various Empire coun;tries I have visited I found almost unijversal satisfaction expressed with the iprogrammes sent from Daventry." Mr. Clark went on to Suva to-day and will return from there to make a survey in New Zeaiand. He was not here fo lindulge in anti-Nazi tactics, as one EngTish paper had expressed it, but to discover how British transmissions were being received and in which direction they were found to be lacking in quality ,and interest. His visit had no political lor international significance whatever. Political broadcasts from foreign stations had been studied in the past two years or more, continued Mr. Clark, and in the opinion of the B.B.C. the best way of countering the propaganda was to develop a justifled reputation for the accurate reporting of news in a completely objective way. From tho imperial standpoint to# counter propaganda with propaganda in a direct senso would be ridiculous. "We are not aiming at serving Ncw Zeaiand all day long," he said. "We now are broadcasting 18 hours a uay split into six periods of transmission each one primarily directed to some part of the Empire at what is likely to be a convenient time for local listening. It is impossible to cater for differing tastes in different parts of the Empire simul* taneou&ly, but in other parts of the Empire the over-all verdict is that the new transmitters have given improved reception. I am surprised to learn that in.New Zeaiand the majority c. listeners prefer the German short-wave programmes. "