§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNOR (by Private Notice)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state whether it is a fact that a warning has recently been issued to the editors of all Irish papers on the subject of Press criticism of the Government and its administration in Ireland, and whether he can give the terms of the warning, and whether the Chief Secretary himself was acquainted with and approved of its terms before that was issued?
§ Mr. DUKEA notice was recently issued warning editors in Ireland against making publications which are likely to cause disaffection. The Press Censorship is at present a Department of military administration. The terms of the warning were settled by the Censorship. I was aware that a warning would probably be issued, but not of its terms.
§ Mr. LYNCHIn this matter we want to know who is governing Ireland on the Civil side, and whether we can rely on the assurance of the Prime Minister himself that General Maxwell has no interference whatever on the Civil side of the Government of Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKEAs I have told the House, the Press Censorship is at present a department of military administration, and is not under the control of the Civil administration in Ireland. It happened that while I was in Dublin last week I became aware that by reason of certain incidents which had occurred, the nature of which I do not think I ought to state to the House, it would probably be necessary that a warning should be given. I gather from the question which is put to me that the warning which was then spoken of in conversation to me as a thing which might be necessary, is the warring to which the question of my hon. Friend refers.
§ Mr. SCANLANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to state; specifically to the House whether newspaper editors in Ireland have been warned that they are not entitled to criticise the Government of Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKETo that question the answer is, No. The warning which has been given to them is as to publication, which, of course, includes criticism, which is likely to produce disaffection and a publication which offends against the terms of the Defence of the Realm Regulations.
§ Mr. CONDONThe good old days!
§ Mr. O'GRADYThe Indian Press Act over again!
§ Mr. SCANLANCan the right hon. Gentleman point to a single provision in the Defence of the Realm Regulations which 2477 prevents newspaper editors from criticising the Government or any Department of it?
§ Mr. DUKEI have not the Defence of the Realm Regulations before me, but that there are provisions in the Defence Regulations which prohibit the publication of matters tending to excite disaffection in the country I am perfectly sure.
§ Mr. SCANLANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Defence of the Realm Regulations relative to the conduct of the Press were under discussion in the House the late Home Secretary definitely stated that the newspapers would be free to criticise the Government and the Departments of the Government?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that.