§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask the Home Secretary a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether his attention has been called to the statements which appeared in a special edition of the "Daily Mail," published this morning, in regard to a naval battle which was said to have taken place off Holland and which appears to be absolutely untrue in every detail; and whether the Government will be able to take some steps to restrain a paper of this importance from publishing infamous and false war news in order that people may be deluded into buying their paper, thus causing very great hardship and heart-burning to the people who read this news? I am quite sure that the Government will do something to stop such infamous conduct.
§ Mr. McKENNAOn inquiry at the Admiralty, I learn that there is no foundation whatever for the statement that has appeared in the Press that there has been a great naval battle. This House, I am sure, will join in an expression of condemnation in the strongest terms of the fabrication of false news, which I cannot say, and do not say, in this case was wilfully done, but which might be wilfully 2202 done for the purpose of assisting the circulation of a newspaper.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the case that there has now been formed at the Admiralty a Press Bureau at which the representatives of all the London papers and the Press Agencies will have accommodation day and night, and whether now steps have not been taken to stop the dissemination of false news and to ensure a constant stream of accurate news for the public?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, a Press Bureau, under the direction of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Walton Division of Liverpool (Mr. F. E. Smith), has been formed, and the public have a reasonable right to expect that no news will be published in the Press except such news as is furnished through this Bureau.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that it did not come into operation until to-day? I do not think that it is yet in operation, but it will be in operation from to-day?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, sir.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTMay I ask whether the Government do not think it necessary to take some definite steps to prevent the dissemination of false news beyond a mere expression of opinion by this House?
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the publication of false news is a misdemeanour under the existing law?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, it is. The law is already strong enough to provide against the continuance of the publication of false news, but the difficulty of proof in each case is extremely great.
§ Mr. JAMES HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the suggestion of depriving any paper which publishes these things in future of the accurate news which is supplied to the Press?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, I think that is a question which the Press Bureau will have to consider.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can take steps to prevent these men and boys calling out news which is not news, say at 12.30, 1, or 2 o'clock in the morning, not only in the West End of London but also in the outlying districts, thereby frightening people?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir; we are already taking steps to prevent the undue disturbance of the public by the calling out of news of any kind at late hours of the night; but we cannot expect the newsboys to discriminate between false and accurate news.
§ Mr. GLYN-JONESCan the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether this newspaper applied either to the Press Bureau or to the Government for confirmation of the news before they published it.
§ Mr. McKENNAI am unable to say.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONIt is already arranged.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYIf the right hon. Gentleman cannot see his way to introduce new legislation, can he at least address a grave communication to all newspapers requesting them not to publish any naval news not supplied by the Bureau?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am sure that this unanimous expression of opinion by the House will have the greatest weight with the whole of the Press.