MR. BTJRDETT-COUTTS (Westminster)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state what are the rules under which the Press Censor acts in opening letters posted in Cape Town and addressed to Members of Parliament or other responsible persons in England; and whether there is any ground for selecting such a letter to be opened other than the name of the person to whom it is addressed; whether, in view of the fact that Members habitually receive letters from South Africa that have not been opened, he will state the reason for an exception being made in the case of a letter addressed to the Member for Westminster.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordRules have been issued for the guidance of Press Censors. They are, however, general. In selecting the letters to be opened, the Press Censor must be guided by his own discretion and experience, but special attention is given to letters coming from disaffected centres. The mere fact that a letter is stamped and passed by a Press Censor does not in itself prove that it has been opened. The Member for Westminster is not regarded as differing in any respect from other Members, but if my hon. friend sends me the envelope of the letter I will see whether I can make an inquiry into the case.
§ MR. BURDETT-COUTTSWill the right hon. Gentleman state, when a letter is stamped as having been opened, whether he will consider this matter as an exceptional case to all the persons belonging to the same class whose letters have not been opened?
§ MR. BRODRICKI have already said that if my hon. friend will send me the envelope I will see whether any inquiry can be made, and whether there has been any special circumstance connected with it.