Evening star., 1938-09-04

committee which turned thumbs down
on the idea that this country should
enter the propaganda parade with
international radio stations of its own.
They agree that Fascist propaganda
by radio and otherwise has backfired,
notably in South America, and that
the good neighbor" policy, contrasting
with the overdoses of Fascist theology
often jamming the wave lengths, is
having a reverse effect to that first
expected and feared
Most assiduous cultivators of Latin
American good will on the radio,
obviously acting on the theory that
trade follows the wireless song and
word, are Germany, Italy. Russia,
Great Britain, France and Japan.
Berlins short-wave stations, operated
as adjuncts of Herr Goebbels' ministry
of propaganda and enlightenment, are
the best heard after those of the private
operators in the United States, which
they often blank out. Italy's are fairly
we'll heard, as are Frances. Japan S
stations cut little swath in the Latin
American either, though the japanese
are vigorous merchandisers of their
goods otherwise.
Unlike Germany and Italy, which
broadcast the news" after it has gone
| through the official processing
Britain's programs are relatively free
| from propaganda and its news by and
large is as bona fide as the news re-
ports emanating from American sta
tions. Thus Edward Tomlinson, the
writer and radio commentator, re-
| ported in a radio talk the other day
after his 18th annual survey of Latin
American conditions, that he found
| that the most universally popular
European programs in South America
| came from the London station"
But" added Mr.. Tomlinson signif.
| icantly, this situation is being rapidly
| changed. American stations and pro.
| grams are getting more and more at
tention. Our regular programs, such
as the Metropolitan Opera, the SYM
phony orchestras, the statements O!
high officials and the talks of our
! SiStAAiS OASiASA arc IN1A4e
heard with increasing interest"
MR.. TOMLINSON asserted enthusi-
Az astically that the good neigh
! Dor" policy is working on the South
American continent, the Secretary
Hull enjoys confidence and admiration
! on all hands, and that the situation
now renders it totally unnecessary
for us to join the propaganda parade
| in South America" AS a matter OF
fact he observes that we need propa-
ganda campaign at home SO that the
people of this country will know South
America better.
Somewhat less sanguine about for
eign inroads on the radio, but con-
firming in general Tomlinsons find
ines, was Linton Wells. the radio re.
porter who recently returned from 6
2T,000-mile trip that included Cubs
| and Central America as we'll as South
America. He reported that German
programs blast through American
short waves all too frequently, citine
An instance when he tried to pick uI
one of President Roosevelt's speeche!
but was blanketed out by a German
piano recital, which ended just as the
President concluded. Italy and Rus.
sia, he reported, come through fairly
often but with nothing like the con.
sistency and clarity of Germany.
Yet he found the programs of the
United States highly popular, beins
picked up and rebroadcast frequently
on local stations. He said he saw
little evidence that Europes doctrine!
of Fascism. Nazi-lsm or Communism
were gaining any foothold.
Nevertheless the totalltarian state!
continue more vigorously than evel
to do their stuff" on the air, otter
supplementing their radio salesman
ship with direct local efforts. They
even aim their short-wave broadcast!
at the United States. the Nazls actu.
ally "dedicating' individual pDgram
to individual States, using the State
anthems as theme songs, even men
tioning names of local residents or
the occasion of their birthday ami.
versaries. etc. How little effect they
are having any short-Wave radio SCI
owner can almost decide for himself
Unlike the situation in South America
where short-wave reception is i'm.
portant. it is the exception rather
than the rule in this country.