the communist newspapers largely discredited themselves
during confrontation last year as a result of the
blatant lies they published, many of these people
believe the news published in the more responsible press.
If such be the case then the communist journals do not
have the influence their circulation suggests.
Nevertheless, public memory is short and of course the
belief can grow that a story must have some substance
if it is repeated often enough without being
satisfactorily countered. ("There is no smoke without
fire"). With the current communist tactics of giving
support to anyone with a grievance against Government,
whether real or imagined, the communist press is likely
to attract sympathy and support, not only from those
directly affected but also from that section of the
community which genuinely wishes to assist the more
unfortunate citizens, While it is unlikely that the
communist press will make any startling improvement
in its circulation in the immediate future, it could
achieve a slow but steady recovery unless it is shown to
be as impervious to the truth as ever and to be purely
utilising local grievances for political gain.
Finance
23.
All communist newspapers are, to some extent,
subsidised by the C.P.G. Some receive direct financial
assistance while others get their aid in the form of
cheap newsprint from the China Resources Company. The
newspapers are not, therefore, altogether dependent upon
their sales for their existence but they are, nevertheless,
at present under considerable pressure from China to make
themselves financially viable and to do this they will have
to make themselves more attractive to the reading public.
/24
CONFIDENTIAL