1939-06-01 — Page 2

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THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 1, 1989.

A FREE PRESS IS VITAL IN WAR--SIR S.

S. HOARE

Government Plans For Newspapers In An Emergency

Home Secretary Sir Samuel Hoare declared recently that it would be essential for the Press to continue publication in wartime and to give "un- doctored" news to help retain public confidence.

Speaking at the Newspaper Society dinner at Grosvenor House, London, he said steps would cer- tainly be taken to protect the Press from so great a withdrawal of trained workers as would interfere with the maintenance of a proper news service.

Sir Samuel, after dealing with censorship in peace-time, to which he was strongly opposed, said that the Government of the day would decide the question of censorship in war-time.

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He would, however, give his views as they were now. In war-time there must, of course, be a censorship.

"These observations," he continued. "assume the continuance of the Press in war-time. It seems to be essential that the Press should continue in war- time. Nothing so much alarmed the country at the time of the general strike as the absence of news.

NAZIS GAOL BRITON

A British subject, Charles Her- mann, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment at a special Berlin court-because he had in- ferred that he was not impressed by German soldiers.

He was accused of spreading untrue "atrocity" stories. Her- mann is alleged to have declared at a dinner party that: "The old officers won't have anything to do with Germany and are leaving the country," and that German sol- diers are "worse than foreign soldiers," and badly dressed.

German Veterans

To Parade

Berlin, To-day.

A MEETING of 300,000 German Great War veterans will be held on Sunday at Kassel.

The meeting will be attended by the Spanish commander, Gen- eral Queipo de Llano and other high Spanish officers, the Japan- ese Ambassador in Berlin (Ĝen- "It is much wiser to adopt the later eral Oshima), and the military lessons of the war and to keep the cen-attaches of Italy, Japan, Spain, sorship, as a part of a war-lime Minis Hungary and Finland. try of Information, in the closest possi- ble touch not only with the Press but also with the wireless, the films and the other instruments of publicity.

"These observations show my gener- al attitude towards Press questions. They are founded on the principle that

Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovakia will be represented by delegations of their Great War veterars.

General von Brauchitsch, com- I always attempt to apply, of co-opera-mander-in-chief of the German tion rather than dictation.

"It is a principle that has been trod Army, and General Keitel, Chief den under foot in more than one great of the General Staff, will also at- country of the world.

Let us show tend.

Trans-Ocean. here that not only is it morally sound. but that it is also practically more) efficient than any system of dictator- ship. monopoly or jack-booted suppres- sion."

"How much more will this be the case in war-time? No doubt war-time In his references to peace-time cen- will mean restrictions. The size of sorship, Sir Samuel said that the Home papers will be smaller, their problem Secretary, the residuary legatee of of production will be more difficult.

Government functions, had a special "But the Government intends as far interest in Press questions, and was as it can to help the papers to sur-the Minister responsible for the police mount these difficulties and we are al-side of the Official Secrets Act. ready in contact with the representa- tives of the Press.

INFLUENCE FOR GOOD "The fact that the list of reserved occupations has been amended by sus- pending the reservation of printers over the age of thirty does not conflict with this policy.

"Printers have always been free to join the Regulars. They will now be free to join the Territorials.

"It would be wrong to prevent puin ters joining the fighting Services if, as I hone, some of them wish to do so.

"But the newspaper trade can feel confident that, in time of war, appro- priate steps will certainly be taken to protect the Press from so great a with. drawal of trained workers as would interfere with the maintenance of proper news service."

An Official Secrets Act was essential to safeguard Budget secrets, contracts, etc.. apart from Defence secrets.

GOLDSMITH SHOOTING CASE IN COURT

THREE ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE GANG OF FIVE WHO "But you have been anxious lest it WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ROB- should be used for suppressing the li-BING A GOLDSMITH IN berty of the Press and destroying the traditions of British Journalism," he SHANGHAI STREET, FOR

continued.

WOUNDING A CHINESE DE- TECTIVE AND FOR THE KILL- ING OF A CHINESE WOMAN

"I have realised the depth of these anxieties and I shall be in a few weeks moving the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons that (1) LAST TUESDAY MORNING, maintains the need for safeguarding WERE CHARGED AT THE KOW- the State against the disclosure of LOON secrets and (2) restricts the use of the special powers of interrogation to espionage cases.

"The Bill should be 2 permanent safeguard to the Press and a perman- ent safeguard that will not endanger the security of the State.

"Even in war time I should like to

"BEYOND EVEN CHURCHILL" see the censorship worked on lines that

The Bill, in fact, expresses my own are in harmony with our general con- ception of the place the Press should attitude, as Home Secretary, towards occupy in our national life, as a plat-the Press. I have recently been asked about censorship in the form and a safety valve for nurification questions and an independent bulwark of the House of Commons.

"Censorship is very tempting, but I public morale.

am against it. It

makes unreliable papers.

"The Press will have much more in- fluence for good if it is not suspecte | by the public of being nothing more than the propaganda agent of a par- ticular Government · or a particular Minister.

the

onemy.

It makes discredited papers. "It makes dull papers. For example, the 'British Gazette.' Not even Mr Churchill could make it readable.

"I have had my share of Pross criti- human, I believe that

MAGISTRACY THIS MORNING, WITH ROBBING LEUNG KUNG-PO, MASTER OF THE GOLDSMITH SHOP, OF

76 Gold finger-rings, Gold bangles,

85

12

Gold neck chains,'

8

Gold earrings and

21 Pieces of gold ornaments, The three accused Chang Shang, 32, Lai Yau, 31, and Yau Sang, 82, were handcuffed to three Chinese detectives in Court.

Detective Inspector A. E. Carey asked for a remand for 48 hours and indicated that further charges against accused are being consider- ed.

was granted by

"Of course, it must be prevented from publishing news that would hel-cism. Being

The request Its representatives will some of it has been very misinformed wish themselves to publish nothing of But be that as it may, I would rather Mr. Q. A. A, MacFadyen. this kind, and they will welcome a con- trol that prevents them falling into

error.

LESSONS OF LAST WAR "But I take the view that the best way to avoid those errors will he to take the lenders into our confidene- and to anneal to their sense of patriotic responsibility to do nothing to embar rass the national effort.

have the criticism of a free Press thar

the adulation of a 'kept' Press.

Sir Samuel concluded: "I have spoken of war preparations, but I de

not wish you to go away with the ides POLLUTION OF

that war is inevitable."

HARBOUR

BARREL OF GUM Co-operation of all ships

MISSING

"We prefer co-operation to dictation We believe that a consorshin that works as closely as possible with the leaders of the Press is not only leve objectionable than some dictatorini Last week the Police were ask- Fraan bureau out of touch with the lifed to locate 300 odd tooth- of the country, but that it is more effective.

ין

“For it will work more quickly and while the final word will, of course, be in war-time, with the Government, It

will help to retain the public confidence

In undoctored news.

“I should, therefore, think 1ť a mis- take to set up the kind of Press bureau that was set in 1914

say.

separate and remote department of

control.

cow and a calf.

using

the waters of the Colony is request- ed by the Harbour Department for avoiding pollution of the harbour.

The vessels are asked not, to dump ashes, duhnege, garbage, and other waste matter the waters of

brushes,

This morning they were request Hong Kong, ed to trace a missing barrel of gum by Messrs. Peterson and Company's godown in Salon Street, pany, of York Building.

West Point.

According to the owners, 74 bar- On arrival at the godown, one of rela of gum were loaded on a truck the barrels, valued at $140, was at Blake Pier on Tuesday after found missing, having mysterious noon and conveyed to the com-lly disappeared while in transit.