Editorial Comment on news ban of Lancastria disaster
The Scotsman newspaper
The following editorial piece is unusually frank in its criticism of the Government's attempts to suppress news of the sinking of the Lancastria and appeared on 26th July 1940.
Editorial Comment
The loss of the Lancastria which has been revealed after some delay, can perhaps be claimed to be a more legitimate success by the Nazis. A former liner, the Lancastria was being used as a troopship to evacuate British forces in France. After embarking over 5000 passengers, including a number of women and children refugees, the vessel, while still at anchor, was attacked and sunk by German aircraft. Almost 2500 were picked up and others may have succeeded in reaching the shore but the number of casualties must have been deplorably high. Such losses unfortunately cannot be avoided in withdrawal operations and it may be wondered why the fate of the Lancastria was not disclosed until a report, not altogether accurate had appeared in the American Press. The Government has given repeated assurances that it is not their policy to conceal news of losses and reverses since they know that the people of this country are not easily depressed by misfortunes. There is no reason to suppose that in general the Government are not fulfilling their undertaking of dealing honestly with the people in the publication of information and their may have been special reasons for delaying the announcement of the loss of the Lancastria. Yet it is obvious that the belated release of news gives an opportunity for rumour to get busy and to embellish facts in a sensational form. It also spreads suspicions that the Government's policy is to tell the public what they think is good for them to know and no more. People with an itch for news are always prone to imagine that they are being kept in the dark and that much is happening behind the scenes. Frank and timely publication of information, good or bad, is the best antidote for gossip and distrust.
