HC Deb 26 July 1915 vol 73 cc1935-6
20. Sir A. MARKHAM

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the "Canadian Gazette" were recently refused permission to cable to Canada an interview which their London representative had with Mr. Butler, the manager of the Canadian Car and Foundry Company; and whether, in this interview, Mr. Butler stated that his company were able to turn out large quantities of shells, that Canada could multiply her output four or five times, that the War Office had declined to place orders, and that Canadian manufacturers resented skilled labour being brought from Canada to this country when the factories in Canada were only partially employed?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)

I have made inquiry, and learn that permission was refused because the interview (which also dealt with another matter to which my hon. Friend quite properly makes no reference) would have furnished information to the enemy as to the sources of supply available to this country and its Allies.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Is that any reason why the statement was excised that skilled men were brought to this country from Canada, while Canadian factories were short of work and Government orders were not placed there?

Sir J. SIMON

I think the rule that the publication of information which might be useful to the enemy should be prohibited is a sensible rule.

Sir A. MARKHAM

Has not the Canadian Minister of Munitions placed very large orders since he has been appointed?

Sir J. SIMON

I still think it undesirable to publish, either by question or otherwise, information as to where our supplies are obtained, as it might be of use to the enemy.

21. Sir A. MARKHAM

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an officer in the 3rd Battalion of the Canadian contingent from Ottawa recently had an interview with the representative of the "Canadian Gazette"; will he say why the Press Bureau excised the portions relating to Artillery in which the statement was made by this officer that more shells were required and that it was disheartening when our reply was one shell to twenty shells of the enemy's; whether the Censor passed the latter part of the same sentence, that the men were as happy as could be when they had a good backing of Artillery; and why were these last words passed by the Censor, which resulted in false news being circulated in Canada owing to the first part of the sentence having been struck out?

Sir J. SIMON

I have seen the full passage referred to. The excisions were made for military reasons. The passage which was allowed to stand—"When there is a good backing of Artillery the men are as happy as men can be. It puts heart into them"—was not dependent for its meaning on the words omitted; and there is no ground for the suggestion that false news was circulated.