SECRET
Copy No. 9 of 15 Copies.
MEMO
To
:D.C.S. (S.D.)
From: Commissioner of Police (D.S.B.)
Ref
: GEN/14/368/138
Tel : 725346
Date: 20th November, 1967
Action against the Communist Press
Please refer to your paper on the above subject dated 16th November, 1967 which was tabled at the Governor's Meeting held the following day.
I feel it would be helpful if you were aware of my views on this subject before your paper is discussed and I have taken the liberty to set these out, in some detail, below and to circulate them to other recipients of the paper
para 2 (a)
para 2 (a)
para 2 (e)
para 3 (a)
para 3 (b)
para 3 (c)
it is generally accepted in newspaper circles that each copy published of any newspaper is seen by at least 3 people. On this basis some 700,000 see a copy of a communist newspaper each day.
circulation figures are now steady therefore they are unlikely to drop further but with the commist campaign to obtain broader support they will probably start to climb shortly.
surely this is an argument for closing. Although a number of people buy communist newspapers for items other than news they must read some of the propaganda contained in them. Closure would mean that this section of the readership would probably not switch to the other communist newspapers and thus communist propaganda would reach fewer, people.
whilst this is true they have not reverted to quite the hysterical pitch they maintained from May to July.
true, but it has been amply demonstrated it can be raised and lowered at will. If a paper is written advocating closure when the press tone is stormy, by the time it is discussed and agreed the tone has been lowered and arguments are raised against action.
-
true offences against the laws are being committed every day.
para 4 (b)
agreed
para 4 (c)
another argument for closure
it is more than a "section of informed public opinion" it is more a widespread public demand.
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