§ 39. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to an article, headed Sir Roger 264 Casement and Sinn Fein, by Mr. H. W. Nevinson, which appeared in August last in the "Atlantic Monthly," a journal published in Boston, United States of America; whether such article was submitted to and passed by the Press Censor in this country and was sent through the post to the United States; and, if not, whether he will take steps to ascertain how and by whom this article was transmitted to the United States?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have not seen the article in question. I have ascertained that there is no trace of its having been submitted to the Press Bureau, and no one in the Postal Censor's Office has any recollection of its having been seen or passed. I fear that I have no means now available of ascertaining by what agency this article was transmitted to the United States.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIf I supply my right hon. Friend with a copy of the article in the magazine in question, will he state whether or not it is a proper article to be published?
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes the censorship apply to what is published in the foreign Press?
§ Sir G. CAVETo articles prepared for transmission from this country.
§ 40 and 41. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary (1) whether his attention has been called to an open letter addressed to the President of the United States by Mr. Bertrand Russell, of 57, Gordon Square, W.C., and published in the American Press in December last; whether this letter was submitted to and passed by the Press Censor in this country, and was sent through the post to the United States; if not, whether he will take steps to ascertain how and by whom this letter was transmitted to the United States, and whether this was done in violation of the Defence of the Realm Regulations; and (2) whether he will consider whether the satements made in the open letter addressed to the President of the United States by Mr. Bertrand Russell and published in the American Press are such as to render the author liable to proceedings under the Defence of the Realm Regulations?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have seen in an American newspaper what purports to be a copy of an "Open Letter" addressed by Mr. Bertrand Russell to the President of the United States, and it is stated in the newspaper that the letter was conveyed from 265 this country by a confidential agent of Mr. Russell in order to avoid the British censorship. If Mr. Russell did, in fact, transmit the letter from the United Kingdom in the manner stated, he appears to have been guilty of an offence against Regulation No. 24 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations; and inquiries are being made on this point. The letter was not submitted to or passed by the censor. With regard to the contents of the letter, it no doubt includes statements which are calculated to mislead and to be injurious to this country; but I doubt whether the American public would in fact attach any importance to the letter, and I do not think that a prosecution on this ground is desirable.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIs this not the same Bertrand Russell who was convicted in June last year for an offence under the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and fined £100 and costs?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes.
§ Sir J. D. REESDoes the President of the United States read all the open letters addressed to him?
§ Sir G. CAVEI very much doubt it.