WITH BRITAIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 11

WITH BRITAIN

FAMILY OF NATIONS EMPHASIS ON VAST POWER PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN: AT HOME LONDON, Oct. 4. The Minister of Information (Mr Duff Cooper) stated that an Empire publicity campaign throughout Britain will be inaugurated on October 7, the first purpose of which is to drive home that Britain does not stand alone, but is a partner in a world-wide immensely powerful family of nations with vast reserves of man power, industrial equipment, raw materials and foodstuffs, all of which are now mobilised to a point at which they must be a vital factor towards victory. The second purpose of the campaign is to remind the public that it is the British Commonwealth with its principle of free partnership that can offer the world new hope for the future. The Minister contrasted this with the Nazis’ “new world order.” which, he said, was merely a resurrection of the old vicious idea of a slave empire in which subjugated races were held down by force and exploited for the benefit of the “ master folk.” India’s Future Speaking of the Empire’s growth, the Minister said it had been gradually transformed from a centrallycontrolled organisation into a commonwealth of equal partners. It was Britain’s hope that India would soon take her place in this free and equal partnership. The colonies were not regarded as possessions to be exploited,* but as communities of people, for whom Britain was carrying out a trust, as a guardian did for a ward. The Minister said there might be suggestions that now, at one of the most intense phases of the war, such a campaign should be postponed. “ I am convinced.” he said, “ that this view is mistaken, and this is precisely the time to bring home to our people that England does not stand alone and that she possesses immense reserves of men, material and goodwill.” Mr Cooper pointed out that the British Commonwealth was not only a European Power, but an American Power, an Asiatic Power and a Pacific Power as well. All the various parts of the Empire were throwing their whole weight into the scale. “ I don’t think,” the Minister said, “ the people of this country appreciate sufficiently the magnitude of the gesture voluntarily maje by the dominions in training men and sending them overseas to fight for the Mother Country.” Counter to German Activity German propaganda, said Mr Cooper, had been both active and successful in many parts of the world, and he instanced America, where, during the recent series of lectures he delivered, he always found the Indian situation misunderstood. This was because the true point of view had not been fairly presented in the United States. The Ministry of Information since the outbreak of the war had been engaged in long-term publicity about the Empire, both at home and abroad, he said. This was part of the Ministry’s general aim of telling the world the facts about the Empire war effort and the cause for which the Commonwealth was fighting. This publicity would be intensified in a special 10-week .Empire campaign on the home front.