WAR NEWS SERVICE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1940, Page 5

WAR NEWS SERVICE

COMPLAINTS IN LONDON OPERATION OF THE BRITISH CENSORSHIP. EXCISIONS FROM CABLEGRAMS SENT OVERSEAS. . Ry Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. March 5. Persistent efforts to induce Government, depart merits to appreciate tlie 'part the Empire Press should play in maintaining’ a full understanding; of national issues and mobilising' support have borne fruit, according' to the annual report of the council of the Empire Press Union. The council says that the position of Empire correspondents in London is more difficult than that of British journalists because, whereas the Home Press is not obliged to submit to censorship, every news cable or air-mail dispatch is compulsorily and rigorously censored. The Ministry of Information has hitherto shown a tendency to underestimate the importance of the Empire Press. London correspondents continue to complain about excisions from cables of material freely appearing in the British Press. The council regards this as unfortunate and damaging to the Empire’s war effort. The council says in the absence of adequate news from London, the Empire Press is liable to use the voluminous news services available frqm neutral and enemy sources. It adds that a heavy responsibility rests on Empire correspondents in London, specially in selecting and interpreting war news to . make it clearly understood throughout tlie Empire. Referring to tlie expansion of the 8.8. C. news bulletins. the council says the question of priority in the release of official news to the 8.8. C. is of primary importance to the British and overseas Press. It instances unfair priority, chiefly resulting from unexpected announcements in Ministers' speeches. It is hoped that, as a result of vigorous protests, such unfortunate slips will become rarer. There is no reason to suppose the 8.8. C. sought priority' or. when it accidentally received it, that it intentionally used it to forestall newspapers.