§ MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.R., Elland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Lord Chamberlain has yet taken any steps to withdraw his prohibition of the production of The Mikado.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe Lord Chamberlain has the matter under his consideration at the present time.
§ MR. TREVELYANHow soon will the Lord Chamberlain be able to give a definite answer as to what his action will be?
§ MR. GLADSTONEIf the hon. Gentleman will put the Question next week I will endeavour to answer it.
MR. GEORGE FABERIn view of the serious loss and inconvenience suffered by innocent parties all over the country, will the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the Lord Chamberlain the desirability of making haste?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have no doubt the Lord Chamberlain is losing no time. I will certainly confer with him on the subject. I think my hon. friend may assume that action will be taken, and taken as soon as possible.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMOND (Clare, E.)Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Secretary for Foreign Affairs and get him to ask the Mikado of Japan whether he really objects? I am sure he does not.
§ MR. LEAI desire to ask if the order of the Lord Chamberlain was in consequence of the visit of Prince Fushimi, and did the order emanate from His Majesty the King?
§ [No Answer was returned.]
MR. GEORGE FABERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, considering the losses resulting to the owners of the copyright of The Mikado, and to owners and lessees of theatres, and others, under arrangement to produce it, and having regard to the public uncertainty and inconvenience caused through the recent action of the Lord Chamberlain in the matter, the Government will introduce a Bill providing that, after the granting of a licence for the production of a stage play by the Lord Chamberlain, the licence shall not be withdrawn unless the play has been materially altered.
§ MR. GLADSTONENo, Sir. The Government are not prepared to introduce legislation of the kind suggested.
MR. GEORGE FABERHas the right hon. Gentleman no remedy to propose to meet these very serious losses?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI think the hon. Gentleman rather overrates the matter. 1084 I certainly cannot bring in such a Bill as he suggests.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a certain performance at a theatre in London which, from any point of view, is distinctly offensive to the German Kaiser?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am not aware of it.
§ MR. WILLIAM REDMONDIt is quite as bad as The Mikado.