§ 37. Mr. DILLONasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the charges made by Dr. Seton Watson against the "Morning Post" newspaper that that journal has been made the instrument of a German-Magyar intrigue to deceive English public opinion, through the medium of its Budapest correspondent, as to the feeling in Hungary on the War, and in other ways has been used for enemy objects; whether he is aware that this correspondent is accused by Dr. Seton Watson of fabricating leading articles, purporting to have appeared in Budapest newspapers, and forging speeches purporting to have been delivered in Parliament by Hungarian statesmen, with the object of misleading this country for enemy purposes; whether he is aware that the same charges have been independently made by an official organ in Paris; whether steps have been, or will be, taken under the Defence of the Realm regulations to investigate these charges against the "Morning Post"; and whether, if it is found that the charges are true, steps will be taken to punish those responsible for these publications?
§ Sir G. CAVEMy attention has only been called to the matter by the hon. Member's question. I understand that the charges are strongly denied, and I do not see my way to take any action in the matter.
§ Mr. DILLONAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman, when such charges are made, not only by responsible persons in this country, but by one of the leading semi-official journals of Paris, will take no steps to ascertain whether they are well-founded or not?
§ Sir G. CAVEI do not see my way to take any action. The hon. Member has already put questions to the Foreign Office, which has given a similar answer.
§ Mr. DILLONIf he was an Irish newspaper editor he would be sent to penal servitude.
Mr. A. F. WHITEWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the editors of this paper whether any uninterned alien enemy is in regular communication with them?
§ Sir G. CAVENo, Sir; I have had no cause to make any such inquiry.
§ Mr. WHYTEWill the right hon. Gentleman ask the editor whether a Magyar named Joseph Szebenyei is in the employment of the "Morning Post," and will he take the trouble to satisfy himself and the public that the articles which have appeared in the "Morning Post" and which have seriously misled people in this country are bonâ fide articles?
§ Mr. DILLONThey are forged articles by foreign spies.
§ Mr. WHYTEOr whether they have been composed in London out of speeches and articles which did not appear in the enemy capital to which they were attributed?
§ Sir G. CAVEIf my hon. Friend will give me any material on which to proceed I will make inquiries.
§ Mr. PRINGLEHas the right hon. Gentleman not taken the trouble to investigate the material referred to in the question?
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman willing to approach the "Morning Post" and ask for their explanation of this extraordinary incident?