The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1936. WAR PROPAGANDA

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19890, 20 May 1936, Page 6

The Waikato Times WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1936. WAR PROPAGANDA

The British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has given the world details of Italian war propaganda that will probably be read in every country except Italy. During the Abyssinian campaign the Italian people were told that their sons were being killed by dumdum bullets, supplied by British firms to the Ethiopian tribesmen. The authorities at Addis Ababa promptly denied the charges, but they were repeated at length and photographs of the illegal ammunition were published in the Italian papers. The British Foreign Office is said to have protested to the Fascist Government, but the propaganda went on, and documents were sent to Geneva to prove British perfidy. It is significant that the charges were withdrawn as soon as it was known that Great Britain intended to meet them by giving full particulars, but they had served their purpose; they had fanned the flames of national antagonism, created that spirit of anger that made the nation more easily swayed by its rulers. The story is one of falsehood and intrigue but probably it will be believed by the present generation of Italians forever. Through the complete control of the Press the Fascists will prevent the facts from becoming known, and thus the seeds of enmity will be sown. This use of a controlled Press is a real danger. It has been said that the freedom of the Press is a very good indication of the freedom of a country, and it is significant that the first steps taken by modern dictators has been to muzzle the critics. In Germany instructions are issued daily and the newspapers are merely echoes, of the Nazi oligarchy. Those who criticise are regarded, and treated, as traitors. Recently the Manchester whose foreign service is famous, published in full the orders received in German newspaper offices. On one day the order read: “On the occasion of the sixty-fifth birthday of Herr von Krupp und Bohlen-Hal-bach the press is to eompient favourably on the man, his work and his firm.” The comment stressed the additional workers engaged, but made no reference to the fact that the total wages bill had dropped, thus lowering the standard of living. Later came an order which read as follows: “It is believed that the presence of Soviet Russian officers at the Czecho-Slovak manoeuvres has not been sufficiently displayed and commented upon. This dangerous collaboration must be emphasised.” In this way the fires of national hatred and suspicion are being constantly fed. The chief danger lies in the fact that it directly influences the thought of the younger people, who have not had the experience to realise what strict censorship involves, and are taught to accept these statements as facts. The obvious unwillingness of the Fascist authorities to stand by their written charges may do something to awaken the nations to the danger that this war propaganda creates. Co-operation must be based on knowledge and as peace depends upon the co-operation of peoples, some way must be found to overcome the limitations imposed by dictators.