§ 51. Sir WILLIAM BYLESasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the name of the competent military authority who was set to judge Mr. Miles Malleson's plays and found that the book was a deliberate calumny on the British soldier, and then ordered a raid on the publisher's premises and the confiscation of all the stock; and will he say what are this officer's qualifications for judging delicate literary work?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy hon. Friend treats this matter as one raising the question of the literary qualifications of the officers referred to. On questions of what constitutes delicate literary work, there is, of course, room for different opinions. But the question involved in this case was not one of literary taste, but of contravention of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and I do not feel called upon to go into the question of the literary qualifications of the officers concerned in the matter.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWould the hon. Gentleman draw the attention of the officer to the article by Mr. Blatchford in the "Sunday Chronicle"?
§ Mr. FORSTERI do not think that is necessary.
§ Mr. PRINGLEBut it arises!