Report on Publicity Department

The 'Irish Bulletin' ceased publication as a daily organ last December. All other work of Publicity Department continues as before.

During the period since Christmas it has been necessary to concentrate considerably upon the situation in the North, particularly in Belfast. The situation there has been that a systematic pogrom has been directed against the Nationalist inhabitants, many of whom were murdered and their houses burned and looted. The Belfast Press represented these occurrences as Sinn Fein outrages. These misrepresentations were also cabled abroad.

To meet this situation we issue daily reports on Belfast. Particular care has been taken that these reports should be reliable.

The Minister has made several visits to Belfast and arranged a direct telegraphic news service. This last course was adopted as it was necessary to get the truth published before the misrepresentations had been accepted.

This publicity for the North has been as successful as could be expected. But unfortunately the world's press generally has been more interested in the far less serious disturbances in other parts of Ireland, such as the mutiny of certain portions of the Army, the interference with public meetings, lootings, shootings, etc. Naturally the Belfast Press and other anti-Irish agencies have taken this opportunity of attributing the crimes of Orange gunmen and Special Constables to 'Sinn Fein extremists.' Nevertheless, we have been largely successful in bringing much of the truth about Belfast before the world.

Certain speeches, apparently advocating civil war, followed by lawless acts by mutineers, have given the impression abroad that the Irish people are about to spring at each others throats. This, no doubt, will be remedied when the Election puts an end to the present transition period.