§ 8. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Lord Advocate if he will state whether any persons have been prosecuted in Scotland for making statements calculated to prejudice recruiting; and, if so, how many?
§ The LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. Munro)One such prosecution has taken place in Scotland in the ordinary Criminal Courts. I cannot, however, say whether any, and, if so, how many such prosecutions may have been instituted by the naval and military authorities.
§ 10. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Attorney-General if he would state how many persons in England and Wales have been prosecuted for making statements calculated to prejudice recruiting?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir F. E. Smith)I have been asked to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. Since the Attorney-General answered a question on Thursday last on this subject he has tried to obtain the information which the hon. Member desires, but he is informed that to obtain the information required would involve extended inquiry throughout England, amongst the various police and naval and military authorities.
§ 11. Mr. KELLAWAYasked the Attorney-General whether he is aware that the group of newspapers controlled by Lord Northcliffe have endeavoured to prejudice recruiting by refusing to publish Lord Kitchener's appeal for 300,000 more men, and that they have described this appeal as a disgraceful one which Lord Kitchener must withdraw; and whether it is proposed to take any proceedings against these papers?
§ Sir F. E. SMITHThe hon. Member has sent the Attorney-General a copy of an article which appeared in the "Evening News" of the 20th May, and which criticises the appeal made by Lord Kitchener to recruits, mainly on the ground that the military age is raised from thirty-eight to forty years, while a number of younger men have abstained from enlisting. It is not proposed by the Attorney-General to take any proceedings in reference to the article.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYDoes not the hon. and learned Gentleman consider that the language quoted in the question must be prejudicial to recruiting?
§ Sir F. E. SMITHI think it must be assumed that my right hon. Friend, on behalf of whom I am answering this question, has considered that.
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI beg to give notice that I will raise this question on the first opportunity.
§ Sir A. MARKHAMIs the right hon. Gentleman aware, before making any alteration in the answer he has given, that many people in this country, including Members of Parliament, think it is disgraceful to appeal to married men of forty years of age to enlist, when young men have not enlisted and are doing nothing?
§ 46. Sir LEO CHIOZZA MONEYasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the interest in our methods of recruiting, he will grant a day for the discussion of the subject by the House of Commons?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)I cannot promise any special opportunity for this discussion.