22 NOVEMBER 1946, Page 16

PAMPHLET SUPPRESSION

Stn,—I am sure that many teachers of current affairs were as delighted as myself when it was announced about a year ago that A.B.C.A. would be continued. Since then the civilian successor of A.B.C.A.—" The Bureau of Current Affairs "—has not only maintained but improved the high standard of A.B.C.A. Above all, their regular pamphlets on topical subjects seem to me masterpieces of objectivity, brevity and presentation. It is thus not surprising that many teachers have made use of these admirable pamphlets. I was therefore more than astonished when I was informed that two of the recent pamphlets have been sup- pressed by the War Office, who are normally bulk subscribers of these publications. The two pamphlets in question were Conflict Over Palestine and Control of the Press. I cannot possibly claim to be a specialist on either subject, but I have read and re-read these two pamphlets. They seemed to me an unbiased and colourful presentation of facts, and I have used them without hesitation.

Far be it from me to suggest that the action of the War Office was unjustified. But it would be of the greatest possible help to us teachers

if in cases like this the War Office could publicly state the reasons for suppression, so that teachers might also stop using material which is considered harmful by official authorities. As long as conscription re- mains, a close co-operation between school and Service authorities seems to me essential if we really want to produce citizens of the world. The incident quoted above indicates that this is far from being the case.—

Stowe, Buckingham