Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
There Is Too Much Loose Talk, 1939 Canada poster: A white arrow bearing the Canadian coat of arms points down through

There Is Too Much Loose Talk

A white arrow bearing the Canadian coat of arms points down through the words 'There is too much loose talk about navy, army, air force and production matters in Canada'. The closing line calls silence 'the duty of every citizen in or out of uniform', a duty-word appeal with no specific harm shown (glittering-generalities).

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Glittering generalities
Date
1939
Period
Second World War
Made by
Director of Public Information, under authority of the Minister of National War Services (Hon. J. T. Thorson), Ottawa
Region
North America
Country
Canada
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Mackenzie King Government
Leader
William Lyon Mackenzie King
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Mobilize or secure compliance
Themes
War and the military, Security and surveillance
Event
World War II
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Foreign Posters, retrieved October 3, 2026
Rights
Public domain (Canadian Crown copyright, 50 years from publication, expired; no URAA restoration)
Director of Public Information, Department of National War Services, Canada, c. 1940-1945. U.S. National Archives, RG 44.

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD TAKE A PART IN THE WAR EFFORT

THERE IS TOO MUCH
LOOSE TALK
ABOUT
NAVY, ARMY, AIR FORCE
& PRODUCTION MATTERS
IN CANADA

TO SERVE IN SILENCE IS
THE DUTY OF EVERY CITIZEN
IN OR OUT OF UNIFORM

ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, UNDER AUTHORITY OF HON. J. T. THORSON, MINISTER OF NATIONAL WAR SERVICES, OTTAWA. PRINTED IN CANADA AG-12EL

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