FACTS WANTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1941, Page 5

FACTS WANTED

ATTACK ON 8.8. C. IN HOUSE OF COMMONS CAMPAIGNS IN GREECE & LIBYA. STATEMENT BY MINISTER , OF INFORMATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 23. ‘Why was the Ministry of Information 24 hours late in denying the German reports that the British were evacuating Greece?” “Will the Government order an investigation of the 8.8.C.’s misleading, inaccurate and stale news about Libya?” . These were among questions which were asked in the House of Commons today regarding the campaigns in Greece and Libya. The Minister of Information, Mr Duff Cooper, replied that he was not aware that the German reports had gained widespread credence. He did not feel that an investigation of the’ 8.8. C. would serve a useful purpose; it had done its best to give an accurate account of the events. A temporary easing of German pressure in Greece had enabled the Empire forces to consolidate their new positions. but the respite was not expected to last long, the Minister added. The Germans were feeling their way cautiously toward the new positions, but their planes continued to dive-bomb and machine-gun the troops from sunrise to sunset. The “Daily Express” today says: “The anxiety of the peoples of New Zealand and Australia for the welfare of their troops in Greece is wholly understandable: All things cannot be told during war, and much must be suppressed for the safety of the soldiers themselves: but a full explanation should now be given to the New Zealand and Australian people regarding the reasons for the secrecy.” BEDTIME STORIES ONLY TO BE TOLD AT RIGHT TIME. LONDON. April 24. There wore cheers in the House of Commons when the Director-General of the Ministry of Information, Mr Nicolson, announced that the Government had asked the 8.8. C. to make its news broadcasts as facutl as possible. “I am aware that for some time irritation has been caused if the news broadcasts are not wholly factual,” he said. “The Government is endeavouring to insure that the 8.8. C. tells bedtime stories at the right time—not in the middle of the news bulletins.”