§ 18. Mr. GINNELLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the "Irish Volunteer" newspaper under its present editor has contained any breach of the Defence of the Realm Act; if not, will he say on what grounds its publication continues to be thwarted, first by seizing the machinery of its printer and now by delaying the editor's correspondence with its present printer forty-eight hours on a route traversed by other letters in three hours; why has the editor's public offer to allow his proofs to be read by a nominee of the Government before publication not been availed of; whether the registered letter addressed to the editor recently officially opened and reclosed in the post office contained any breach of the Defence of the Realm Act; and why the paper is not either dealt with openly if violating that Act or let alone if not violating that Act?
§ Mr. TENNANTAny action in regard to the "Irish Volunteer" is in pursuance of the Regulations under the Defence of the Realm Act. The authorities must necessarily take from time to time such precautionary steps as seem to them to be called for.
§ Mr. GINNELLThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question. Will he be good enough to answer it?
§ Mr. TENNANTI can only answer it in a general way in the terms of the answer which I have given to the hon. Gentleman. The fact is that the offices of the printer of this hews paper were raided because he had issued another newspaper, not this particular newspaper, which contravened the Regulations of the Defence of the Realm Act.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman answer whether or not this paper has committed any breach of the Defence of the Realm Act?
§ Mr. TENNANTI never said that it had.
§ Mr. GINNELLThen it has not. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper? Did the registered letter recently opened and reclosed in the War Office contain any matter in contravention of that Act?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not think that I can answer that question.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether this paper will be prosecuted or brought to trial of some sort if it has violated the Act, or let alone if it has not?
§ Mr. TENNANTI shall certainly promise the right hon. Gentleman that the paper will be prosecuted if it violates the regulation.
§ Mr. GINNELLWill it be let alone if it has not violated it?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes. If it does not do so it will be let alone.
§ Mr. GINNELLThen why is it not let alone?