§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIR (Forfarshire)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether the censor of news in South Africa is a military or civil officer, under what authority military or civil and under whose instructions he acts, what correspondence telegraphic and postal is submitted to his examination, and whether all such examination takes place in South Africa.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. Wyndham)The censorship in South Africa is exorcised by military officers acting under the authority of the Field Marshal commanding the forces. It is not desirable to give information as to the manner in which it is exercised.
§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for the Rushcliffe Division of Nottingham, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War with what person lies the primary responsibility for the system of censorship and suppression now exercised in the South African colonies over telegrams from abroad, under what authority it is exercised, at what date commenced, and by whom the actual duty of inspecting such telegrams is performed; and whether there is or has been any similar system with respect to letters or other documents passing through the Post Office to the Cape Colony or Natal, and in that case under what authority it is exercised.
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS (for Mr. Wyndham)The responsibility for the censorship rests with Her Majesty's Government, several Departments of which are concerned. It is exercised under Articles VII. and VIII. of the International Telegraph Convention. It com- 372 menced in October and it is carried out by specially appointed military officers. It is not desirable to make known particulars with regard to the manner in which the censorship is exercised.
§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIRDoes the hon. Gentleman give us to understand that the responsibility for the censorship lies with the Field Marshal commanding the forces, or that it lies with Her Majesty's Government? Is it a military or a civil responsibility?
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSPerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to understand precisely what I expressed by the answer which I have just given and by the answer which I gave to him.
§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIRMay I point out to the hon. Gentleman that the reason—
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Gentleman is not in order in giving his reasons for asking the question.
§ CAPTAIN SINCLAIRThe hon. Member rebuked me.
§ An Hon. Member: Can the hon. Gentleman give us the name of the censor?
*MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMSI have just stated that it is not desirable to make known the manner in which the censorship is exercised.
§ [No answer was given.]