§ Mr. WEDGWOODI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether his attention has been called to the case of Frederick Crowsley, charged with advocating in Aldershot the doctrines which Count Leo Tolstoi advocated with impunity in Russia, who has been refused bail, although he avers that he will lose his job if locked up; whether he can make representations to the magistrates urging that, unless the man is a violent character with previous convictions against him, bail should be allowed, and whether he can do anything to prevent further interference with freedom of speech in this country?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am obliged to my hon. Friend for giving me notice of this question, but I only got it a couple of hours ago. I called for a report, but it has not yet reached me. I may say the question of bail is entirely in the discretion of the magistrates.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhy is it that the police have taken proceedings against this man for asking men not to attack their fellow men and no proceedings have been taken against the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Dublin University?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman had better put his question on the Paper.