asked the Minister for External Affairs if his attention has been drawn to a leading article in a Dublin daily newspaper on 8th May, 1952, in which it was stated that the Irish News Agency had submitted to that paper six photographs connected with communistic celebrations in Moscow with a view to publication at the usual rates charged by the agency; and, if so, if he has satisfied himself that it is politic or wise or the function of the Irish News Agency to act as a medium to enable such communistic propaganda to be disseminated in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish News Agency.
My attention was drawn to the leading article in the Irish Independent of May 8th to which the Deputy refers. The photograph of Russian troops in Moscow published by the Independent was one of seven photographs supplied by the Irish News Agency as Irish agent of the United Press-Planet Photograph Service to the “Independent” group of newspapers.
In its leading article the Independent—refering to the sixth of these photographs—says: “The sixth, in the words of the Irish News Agency, shows ‘smart Russian troops march past during the great May Day celebrations in Red Square, Moscow'.” The words quoted by the Irish Independent as being words of the Irish News Agency were, as the editorial staff of the Irish Independent well know, not drafted by the Irish News Agency but by the United Press-Planet Service, and accompanied the pictures when issued by the United Press-Planet Service.
On the evening of the 7th May one of the "Independent" group of newspapers, the Evening Herald, published the seventh photograph of the Russian parade, but no reference to it was made in the Independent's leading article of the 8th May. This seventh photograph was a picture of giant tanks in the Red Square with huge posters of Stalin and Molotov clearly visible. The heading in the Evening Herald picture was “Russia's Armed Strength on Parade”, and the footnote said: “The reality of Russia's challenge to the West is amply demonstrated by these huge tanks pictured in Moscow's Red Square during a recent parade.” These words were again, of course, the descriptive words attached to the seventh photograph by the United Press-Planet Service, not the words of the Irish News Agency. If, as the Independent said in relation to the six photographs to which it referred, “every one of them is, in our opinion, Russian propaganda”, it is strange that the Independent did not also condemn the Evening Herald for its pro-Russian activities in publishing the United Press-Planet Service photograph on the evening of the 7th.
Alluding to another one of the United Press-Planet photographs, the Independent says: “Another shows vast and enthusiastic crowds carrying giant portraits of Marshal Stalin in Red Square.” I do not allege that the crowds in Red Square carried the giant portraits of Marshal Stalin because they were following the example of the Irish Independent, but within the last couple of years the Independent published pictures of Marshal Stalin with a smiling face; Marshal Stalin drinking a toast in the Kremlin; Marshal Stalin and Molotov at the Kremlin; Marshal Stalin at dinner; and at least three other pictures of the same gentleman, not to speak of photographs of his right-hand men, M. Litvinov, Gromyko and Maisky. Indeed, the Independent was so keen on publishing this form of what it now calls Russian propaganda that in 1950 it ordered direct from the United Press-Planet and published another photograph of massed units of the Red Army parading through the Red Square.
The Irish News Agency, as the Dáil is only too keenly aware, is not a money-making proposition, but one of the activities upon which it does make a profit is the circulation of photographs as agent of the United Press-Planet Service. This service is a very well-known and reputable American news-photograph service. The photograph service is the only one of the United Press-Planet activities for which the Irish News Agency acts as agent here. Their news service is distributed from their own bureau in Dublin, the manager of which is the son of a T.D. of this House, the brother of another, and the brother of a Senator. It will be news to these members of the Oireachtas that they are harbouring the chief of an American-Communist, pro-Russian cell.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, does he not consider that the Irish News Agency should use some circumspection in the type of propaganda which it circulates? Surely the Russian Soviet sponsored Communist agencies have enough money at their disposal to circulate propaganda without the Irish News Agency taking a hand to help them?
Is the Minister aware that three British, one American and one Canadian news agencies have as their paid Irish representatives editorial executives of "Independent" Newspapers, and does he not consider that this strong vested interest represents the real reason for this particular attack by the Irish Independent on the Irish News Agency?
Who wrote that out for the Deputy? He read it very well. Who wrote it? Could it be a little Press man?