§ 46. Mr. ASHLEYasked the Prime Minister whether he will co-ordinate the practice of the Admiralty and War Office with reference to the censoring of letters addressed to Members at the Palace of Westminster?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, Sir, I will arrange that this shall be done. I am anxious that it should be done.
§ Mr. ASHLEYIn what sense?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn the Admiralty sense.
§ 54 and 55. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Prime Minister (1) whether he can state definitely whether all letters addressed to all Members at this Palace of Westminster, coming from North and South America, are subject to be opened by the Censor, or whether discrimination is shown; and, if so, the reason for such discrimination and, if no discrimination is displayed, the object of censoring such letters; and (2) whether letters written by Members of this House, and bearing their names upon the envelopes, handed personally to the postmaster in the Inner Lobby for postage to North and South America, are opened by the Censor; and, if so, the object of this censorship?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe only discrimination is in favour of those who habitually conduct official correspondence. It is not considered in the public interest that confidential official communications should be read by others than the person to whom they are addressed. It is a mistake to suppose that the fact of a letter having been opened by the Censor constitutes any reflection on the character of either the writer or the recipient. The object of the censorship is to prevent the enemy making use of any indiscretions which may be contained in them. Experience shows that even the best-intentioned persons are occasionally guilty of such indiscretions.