§ 32. Mr. GINNELLasked the Postmaster-General whether the censorship is being exercised for personal purposes, such as the prevention and return to senders of private letters containing comments on Members of the Government; and whether he will define the extent to which censorship is now being exercised over private correspondence?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe censorship is of course not being used for any personal or partisan purposes, but solely for the prevention of leakage of naval and military information which might be useful to the enemy.
§ 55. Sir W. BULLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether on the 25th January the military head of the Censor of Mails admitted that he only became aware of the Austrian relationship of a lady in his department since she joined the censorship; that it is a well-known fact that her own brother deplored her strong pro-German sympathies, and that one of the gentlemen whose name was given as a reference for the position she now occupies has since admitted that, having regard to her associations, he ought not to have recommended her; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe hon. Member is misinformed of the date when the military postal censor became aware of the Austrian relationship of the lady. I have no information at the War Office as to the second part of the question, but I have ascertained from the family that it is unfounded, and that they warmly resent the 260 imputation. All our inquiries have failed to identify the person suggested in the third part of the question. It is not proposed to take any action.