CAB129-45 — Page 99

Page 99.

Page 99

Page 99

95

Cinculated 20/3 (8. orum)

THIS DOCUMENT THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT 96

Printed for the Cabinet. March 1951

CONFIDENTIAL

C.P. (51) 86

19th March, 1951

CABINET

Copy No.

31

PROPAGANDA FILM OF THE BERLIN YOUTH RALLY

MEMORANDUM BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The Problem

The Free German Youth (F.D.J.) held a mass rally in Berlin last Whitsun preceded by an International Congress of the Young Fighters for Peace. An impressive coloured film of this Rally was made for propaganda purposes.

2. A copy of this film has been imported for exhibition to student audiences in the United Kingdom. A decision must be given on whether or not an import licence for this film will be granted.

3. At the same time a decision must be taken as to whether or not the whole or part of the film will be exhibited to selected audiences in the United Kingdom.

Background

4. The Free German Youth Rally in Berlin last Whitsun was a demonstration of the strength and organisation of the Communist youth movement of the Eastern Zone of Germany. Some 700,000 youth took part, mostly from the Eastern Zone, and the cost of holding the Rally is reported to have been about £2 million. Several contingents from Western Germany also participated and there were guests from other countries, mostly from the Satellites. The slogans of the Rally were "Prepared to Fight for Peace" and "Friendship." A very powerful coloured film of the Rally under the title "Immer Bereit " (Always Prepared) was made for propaganda purposes. A copy of this film was seized in the raid on Communist headquarters in Dusseldorf last autumn and has been shown to selected audiences in Western Germany and to Members of Parliament and to official audiences in London. Some of my colleagues may remember seeing it.

5. A copy of this film was made available by Honnecker, the leader of the Free German Youth, to the delegate of the National Union of Students, who attended the recent meeting of the International Union of Students in Berlin. This delegate has announced the intention of exhibiting it to the N.U.S. Council and groups of students in the United Kingdom in order to show them the unmistakable political atmosphere of Communist-sponsored Youth Rallies, and in order that they may thereby determine their attitude towards any further Rallies which may be held by the International Union of Students in Berlin. At the request of the Foreign Office the Board of Trade have held up the application for an import licence for this film which has been made on behalf of the National Union of Students.

6. I have also consulted the Secretary of State for the Home Department regarding the possibility of exercising the Royal Prerogative in order to prevent the film being released to the National Union of Students. He points out that it is Home Office policy to use the power of Prerogative very sparingly, and to intercept incoming publications (which include films) only if they advocate or approve breaches of the law, or where, without going so far, the whole tendency is to encourage the commission of offences, or where they present a serious and urgent threat to the safety of the State. In this case he is reluctant to exercise his power to interdepgeheimf 587