§ 54. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to an article published in the "Daily News," on the 3rd June, in which the naval battle of Jutland was described as the greatest disaster to the British arms; whether this article was submitted to and passed by the Censor; and, if not, having regard to the discouragement and depression which such an estimate of the results of the action would be likely to create in the public mind, why the paper guilty of publishing it has not been suspended, as was done in the case of the "Globe" newspaper for a less serious offence?
Mr. SAMUELThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. The article was not submitted to the Press Bureau. It was based on the first information relating to the naval battle that came to hand, and in addition to the opinion quoted, not quite accurately, in the question, expressed the view that the facts as then known were unwelcome but afforded no ground for pessimism or depression. There was no case for proceedings against the newspaper.
§ Mr. McNEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the expression used in the question was actually in the article, and does he not think this hasty step on the part of the newspaper ought to be dealt with very severely?
Mr. SAMUELThe hon. Member has not quite correctly quoted the article, but very nearly, and there is no point of substance in the difference. I am afraid a great many people when they received the first news of the naval battle took a somewhat depressed view of the facts, but I do not think the Government would be justified in prosecuting or suppressing this newspaper for the article in question.
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate the fact that this opinion was quoted all over Europe?
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs any action being taken with regard to the author of the original Official Report?
§ 96. Mr. BIGLANDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is yet in a position to give the names of the German battleships, battle cruisers, and light cruisers, and the number of their smaller war vessels sunk during the action of 31st May and 1st June in the North Sea, or in the course of their attempt to reach harbour; and, if so, whether he will now state the names and numbers accordingly?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)It is not possible to define the full extent of the German losses in the naval action off the coast of Jutland, but the Admiralty have no reason to modify the estimate contained in the official communiqué published on the 5th June.