LOSS OF LANCASTRIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 July 1940, Page 5

LOSS OF LANCASTRIA

DELAY kN RELEASING NEWS CRITICISED STRONGLY IN BRITAIN. “AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF STUPIDITY.” (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, July 29. The “Daily .Mail,” in a lending article, says the official delay in releasing the news of the loss of the liner Lancastria by Clernian bombing has badly affected public opinion, “.It seems an outstanding example of the stupidity of some official mind,” adds the paper. “The Lancastria was sunk on June 17. Within a few days of the disaster hundreds of thousands of British people knew it was true because they heard stories from the survivors. “The losses were exaggerated as the tale spread, but it was not till July 24 that the news was first published in New York, after which the Ministry of Information permitted British newspapers to circulate the news they had known for five weeks. “The service departments are doubtless primarily responsible for the delay, but it is the business of the Ministry of Information to urge in the national interests the earliest release of good or bad news. The Ministry essays many roles, sometimes that of a nosey parker, sometimes a benevolent uncle, sometimes a schoolmaster, but rarely is it the source of worth while information.” LORD PERTH REASONS FOR RESIGNING. LONDON, July 28. Lord Perth (whose resignation from the post of chief adviser on foreign publicity to the Ministry of Information, was reported yesterday), in an interview with the “Daily Mail,” stated: ‘“I resigned because I consider that the department for which I was working was redundant. Therefore, my position was unjustified or, if justified, insufficient use was made of my services. I have no quarrel with Mr Duff Cooper.”