MOTIONS DEFERRED FROM PREVIOUS SESSION - PROPAGANDA IN ENGLAND.
J.J. WALSH (Cork City) moved:—
A motion regarding the initation of a Propaganda campaign on a scale likely to affect the internal harmony of England. Propaganda was more powerful than weapons. He explained the nature of his proposals and how he thought they could be financed.
The SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE was entirely in favour of a Propaganda campaign in England. He was willing to second the motion on the Agenda paper.
After some discussion as to the details of the motion the SECRETARY FOR FINANCE stated that he was absolutely opposed to any person making a proposal the details of which were not carefully thought out. The Ministry were pursuing the right lines at present. He considered that to accept certain of the proposals outlined by Mr. Walsh would have as disastrous results as if they decided to return to the Westminster Parliament. The English people broke down the Germans by means of propaganda though the latter were able to spend forty millions more than the Republic could spend. English morale could not be broken by propaganda. He was firmly convinced they had no friends in England. Asquith was a worse enemy of Ireland than Lloyd George; Gladstone was a greater enemy than Castlereagh; Thomas was worse than either Carson or Bonar Law; English Labour was just as hostile as English Capital.
After further discussion the proposer agreed to withdraw the motion.