A RADIO HANDICAP.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 10, 5 October 1937, Page 6

A RADIO HANDICAP.

"Now that the United States has begun a new sfcries of broadcasts in five languages it is time to end the prolonged consideration whether this country should broadeast in any otber tongue .but Englisb. We are now the only Great Power which confines its broadeast to one language. This austere rest rain t is the more remarkable because no other country has an Empire coniparable in extent to the British Commonwealth of Nations or unites under its flag so many races and languages. There are now not less than a dozen European States sending out programmes in diverse languages. France uses 10; Russia eight,- besides a number of minor tongues; Italy ranges from Arabic to Hindustani, Chinese and Japanese. These foreign programmes are by no means wholly controversial intemational propaganda. The amount and intensity of that element 'varies greatly. But in the nature of things they all have the propagandist purpose of national advertisement, to spread across the world the opinions dominating the broadcasting country and glorify its achievements. No one here desires to enter into a conflict of propaganda, but there is a general demand that the nseless self-denying ordinance which has prohibited Empire broadcosts in any of the Empire's languages but ou9 ihould be terminated." — Daily Telegraph, London. -