§ 51. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of 775 the fact that the disclosure of the proportional contribution of the Allies to the total forces in the field would be prejudicial, his attention has been called to the disclosure by Lord Northcliffe on 10th October to a large gathering of the strength of the British forces in the field and of the proportional strength of the Russian forces; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in regard to it under the Defence of the Realm Act?
§ Mr. FORSTERAs I have stated, any information which may have been given at the gathering of which the hon. Member has knowledge was not given by the War Office, and it may have been incorrect, for all that I know. My right hon. Friend's statement that the disclosure of the proportional contribution of the Allies to the total forces in the field would be prejudicial referred to the disclosure of authentic official information. In any case, Lord Northcliffe's information was not published in the Press, nor am I aware that there was any attempt to communicate it to the enemy. I, of course, fully appreciate the hon. Member's desire that no avoidable advantage should accrue to the enemy, but it is not proposed in this instance to follow his suggestion and to institute a prosecution under the Defence of the Realm Regulations.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs it not the fact that persons have been prosecuted for making statements prejudicial to recruiting in private conversation and have been fined and sent to gaol, and therefore why should not Lord Northcliffe be prosecuted for making those statements?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware that anybody has been sent to gaol for making statements in private conversation.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply and to the fact that I was howled down in this House for asking for this, information, I give notice that I shall raise it on the Motion for Adjournment to-morrow night, and I hope the Minister for War will be present.