Letter from Seán MacBride to William Norton (Dublin)

Dear Bill,
I return herewith the file re broadcasting and requests of the anti-partition bodies. The request from the Anti-partition Association in Dublin, I think, goes too far. The request from the Anti-Partition League in Belfast, on the other hand is one that might well be considered.

I do not agree with the statement from the Secretary of the Department that the BBC is scrupulous in avoiding political propaganda on Partition. Over and over again pro-partition propaganda material has been broadcast on the BBC networks from Belfast and also in its overseas programme. I have heard some of this propaganda myself.

I am inclined to think that our radio authorities tend to lean backwards in their policy of treating Partition as a skeleton in the cupboard which is to be hidden from our people and the outside world.