§ 98. Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been directed to descriptions and photographs in the press of a play, entitled "The People's King," at the Chelsea Palace, wherein the King of Brydonia dismisses from office certain ministers named Bertram Lasquelle, Louis Geroque, Johanne Brunelle, and others, which personages are stated to be easily recognisable as certain living public characters whose names are given; whether he is aware that official evidence was rendered to the Joint Committee on Stage Plays by the Lord Chamberlain's. Department, at Question 267, that the representation on the stage of political personages is distinctly forbidden by the endorsement on every licence; whether he can state why this rule has been broken; and what steps have been taken to enforce it?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have seen the statement referred to. I am well aware that the rule of the Lord Chamberlain is, and has for many years been, that: "no offensive personalities or representations of living persons be permitted" on the stage; and this is endorsed on every licence. This rule was communicated to the Joint Committee officially by Sir Douglas Dawson on behalf of the Lord Chamberlain. On the attention of the Lord Chamberlain being called to the manner in which the play in question was put upon the stage, he communicated with the manager, who undertook to make changes last night, and to continue those changes in future performances. My hon. Friend will realise that innuendoes which might escape attention on the perusal of a play submitted for allowance might afterwards become apparent by the make-up of the characters.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTMay I ask whether that does not show the absolute futility of censorship before production, which was the opinion of Lord Gorrell?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not want to enter into a controversy with my hon. Friend on the merits of the censor question, but I am bound to say in the present ease I do not think that he proves his point by reference to the fact that the censor passed letterpress which, on the face of it, was perfectly innocent. In fact the whole point was due to make-up of the characters.