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(Continued from overleaf)
But among the most objectionable elements of the past nine months -- particularly for the young Princes -- has been the statements of fact about Diana's last words and the implication that she was pregnant at the time of her death.
The latter has been advanced as the primary reason for murder and there is some evidence to suggest -in radio phone-ins and the like -- that the British public is beginning to accept this.
Only the release of the autopsy results will disprove the falsehood, and even then one suspects that Al Fayed's propaganda campaign, aided by credulous journalists, has been so successful that large numbers of people will continue to believe in the pregnancy and the murder plot.
There was a time before bottom-line accountants took over the ITV companies and Director-General John Birt tore the creative heart out of the BBC, that brilliant investigative journalism gave British television an integrity and sense of quality envied round the world. But watching last night's programme and the discussion that followed, many viewers must have been perplexed. After all, it isn't every country that allows its broadcasters to airily accuse the entire political establishment of murder and cover-up, without providing any serious supporting evidence.
The tradition of free speech is indeed a rare and wonderful privilege. But last night it was abused by ITV in the base pursuit of ratings.
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