§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state in what countries a censorship over stage plays previous to public performance is in existence; and in what countries such censorship is exercised by an official not appointed or controlled by any publicly-elected authority, who levies fees for the reading of each play and whose decisions are not subject to any appeal?
§ The UNDER - SECRETARY for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)It is only in respect to France and the principal States of the German Empire that any information on the subject is in the possession of the Foreign Office. In these countries the police authorities exercise powers of supervision and prohibition, subject, in most cases, to an appeal to a Minister of State. I shall be happy to show to my hon. Friend the several Reports from His Majesty's representatives at the capitals in question.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTAm I to understand that according to the information in the possession of the Foreign Office there is no foreign country which has a censorship over plays previous to performance as distinct from control after production?
§ Mr. McKINNON WOODI think it would be better if my hon. Friend would look at the documents.