§ MR. TREVELYAN (Yorkshire, W.H., Elland)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether naval bands have been forbidden to play any selections from "The Mikado "; and, if so, will he explain the reason for this prohibition.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)The license for the play was withdrawn by the Lord Chamberlain, who 1324 asked that instructions should be given to all naval and marine bands to exclude from their musical programmes any music of "The Mikado" during the visit of His Imperial Highness the Prince Fushimi of Japan to this country.
§ VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)Can the right hon. Gentleman state more fully the grounds on which the Admiralty came to this extraordinary decision?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI have stated fully the grounds.
§ MR. GEORGE FABER (York)May I ask whether there is any buffoonery in the music?
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)Will the Government reconsider their decision?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Admiralty are alone concerned in this matter, and they will not reconsider their decision.