§ 44. Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Solicitor-General if a cablegram from the Canadian correspondent of a London newspaper, containing an account of Canadian comment on the appointment of a Member of this House to command a brigade including Canadian troops, was stopped by the Press Censor without notifying the proprietor or editor of the newspaper until inquiry was made with regard to it; if he will say for what reason the publication of the message was prohibited; whether it is the usual procedure of the Press Censor to suppress dispatches from newspaper correspondents abroad for which payment has to be made without communicating the fact of their receipt and the reason for their suppression to the addressee; and, if not, why this procedure was followed in the instance in question?
§ The SOLICITOR-GENERAL (Sir Stanley Buckmaster)One message on the subject of the appointment referred to in this question to one paper was stopped because its publication would, in my judgment, have been contrary to the national interest. It is not usual to inform an addressee that a message has been stopped or to communicate its contents, but in special cases it has been done. The usual course was followed in this case.
§ Mr. McNEILLI will refer to the matter on the Motion for Adjournment to-night.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDid not the Solicitor-General inform the House that no messages were stopped?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERThat is exactly the opposite of what I informed the House. I informed the House that one message was stopped, and just as I have informed the hon. Member now so I informed him two days ago.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any references in the messages of "Eye-Witness" have been stopped?
§ Sir S. BUCKMASTERI know nothing about it.