§ 36. Mr. TOUCHEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the Censor is now opening letters from France where it is clearly shown on the envelope that the persons to whom they are addressed are Members of Parliament; if this is done because Members are suspected of being lacking in discretion, or why is it done; will he say whether, in practice as well as in theory, the correspondence of all Members of Parliament is treated in the same way, without discrimination, or does the procedure apply only to selected Members; and, if so, on what basis and by whom is the discrimination exercised?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll mails coming from France are liable to be submitted to the Military Censor. No discrimination is made between different Members of the House. I need hardly say that it is a mistake to suppose that the opening of a letter by the Censor constitutes any reflection either on the writer or the recipient. The object of the censorship is to prevent the enemy making use of indiscretions, to which experience shows that even the best-intentioned persons are liable.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONPersonally, I am not a privileged Member.