§ 36. Mr. BUTCHERasked whether the Government are taking any steps to deal with the propaganda in favour of a premature peace which is being carried on by means of leaflets and other publications?
§ Sir G. CAVEYes, Sir; the powers now vested in the Government for this 557 purpose have been freely used. Many thousands of these leaflets have been seized and destroyed, and in some of these cases the Attorney-General has sanctioned a prosecution. But most of the leaflets do not come to the notice of the authorities until after they have been partly distributed, and there is often a difficulty in ascertaining the authorship. Further, the penalty imposed by Statute upon the printing of these leaflets without disclosing the printer's name is inadequate in time of war, and some of them are distributed without the imprint required by law. In these circumstances the Government consider that additional powers are required. It is proposed, therefore, to make a new Regulation under the Defence of the Realm Acts, requiring every leaflet relating to the present War or to the conclusion of peace to bear the names and addresses of the author and printer, and to be submitted to the Press Bureau for approval. This Regulation will be submitted for approval forthwith.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if the Government have now come to the conclusion that it is an offence under the Defence of the Realm Act to advocate Free Trade in this country, and whether they raided the offices of the International Free Trade League, which confines its activities entirely—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the opposition to peace comes chiefly from profiteers who are making money out of the War, and from their jackals?
§ Mr. BUTCHERHas the right hon. Gentleman taken note of the very pernicious action taken by hon. Gentlemen here calling themselves Pacifists with regard to peace, and will he deal severely with them?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question on the Paper.
§ Mr. LEES-SMITHMay I ask why the Government cannot deal with these pamphlets by fair and open argument instead of hiding behind the police?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am dealing with pamphlets which infringe the law and must be dealt with under the law.
§ General CROFTIs it not a fact that precisely this same propaganda with leaf- 558 lets took place in Russia and Italy with the same appalling results, and will he take every effort to prevent it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a question for the Foreign Office.
§ Mr. G. TERRELLWhat will be the penalty for breach of the new Regulations?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe penalty imposed by the Defence of the Realm Act is a heavy fine or imprisonment.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWill the right hon. Gentleman add to the Regulations a penalty for distributing the leaflets that have not the necessary imprint upon them?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat is included.
Mr. PONSONBYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the late Prime Minister stated in this House that the advocacy of peace by negotiation was not an offence under the Defence of the Realm Act, and have the present. Government changed that policy?
§ Sir G. CAVEThat may be, but this Regulation deals with leaflets that infringe the Regulations.
§ 39. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the conviction of Stephen Alfred Chandler at Exeter for distributing a pamphlet issued by the Union of Democratic Control, the object of which was described by the mayor as being to shock the morale of the British people, to induce fighting men to stop fighting, to induce people to decline to serve, to break the nerve of the British people, and let the Germans win; and whether he will take steps to stop the printing and publication of such pamphlets at the source by dissolving the union in question?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am informed that Chandler was convicted of distributing a pamphlet which was printed and published by Arnold Lupton, and in respect of which Lupton had been fined £200. The latter part of the question, therefore, does not appear to arise in connection with this pamphlet.
§ Mr. TREVELYANIn view of the fact that in the first instance Mr. Lupton, who printed and published this pamphlet, only got a fine, does the right hon. Gentleman not consider it rather hard that a man who before the pamphlet was found to be illegal distributed it should get two 559 months' hard labour when the man who wrote and published the pamphlet only got a fine?
§ Sir G. CAVEThis man distributed the pamphlet after Lupton was proceeded against.
§ Mr. TREVELYANNo; it was before.
§ Sir G. CAVEI understood it was after.
§ Mr. TREVELYANIf the right hon. Gentleman receives information to show that he only distributed the pamphlet before the case even came on in Court and destroyed the pamphlet the moment he knew that there was any question about it, will he reconsider the question?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am always willing to receive representations as to a sentence, but, of course, I cannot give any promise.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSIf the pamphlet was issued by the Union of Democratic Control, would it come under the new Regulation the right hon. Gentleman is proposing?
§ Sir G. CAVECertainly; all such pamphlets will come under the Regulation.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEHave not all the disastrous results in this question come about through the speech of the Prime Minister in Paris?
§ Colonel YATEIf I catch a man stuffing these pamphlets in my letter-box, can I have him arrested?
§ Sir G. CAVEI hope the hon. and gallant Gentleman will himself take him into custody.
§ Mr. SNOWDEN (later)In view of the serious statement made by the Home Secretary at Question Time to-day, that the Government propose to seek further powers under the Defence of the Realm Act, I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, "the action of the Government in interfering with political propaganda and the steps they have announced to-day for the suppression of the advocacy of peace and the discussion of political policy."
The pleasure of the House not having been signified, Mr. SPEAKER called on those Members who supported the Motion to 560 rise in their places, and, less than forty Members having accordingly risen, the House proceeded to the business of the day.