§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)To ask the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will explain why the application, dated 19th November 1902, to license a paper to be called El Eco del Derecho (The Echo of Right), and to be published in Gibraltar, from Andres Fernandez, which was accompanied by copies of correspondence on the 1099 matter between Andrés Fernandez and His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar, was refused.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain.) The granting of licences for the publication of newspapers in Gibraltar is vested by Law in the Governor of the fortress. The Governor informed me that he had refused Fernandez a licence because he was convinced that the publication of the proposed paper would be prejudicial to the interests of the fortress, for the protection of which he is responsible, and I saw no reason for overruling his decision.