§ 56. Mr. PRINGLEasked whether instructions have been given to the War Savings Committee and other similar Government Committees which insert advertisements in the Press, to place or Withhold such advertisements on account of the editorial opinion and conduct of the Newspapers affected; and, if so, will he state precisely what the instructions are?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that if such advertisements are withdrawn there is nobody in particular responsible and no general principle on which action is taken?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe question of advertisements raised by the hon. Member were, I presume, War Loan advertisements.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it the case that advertisements have been withdrawn on other than business grounds from periodicals which were recommended by the advertisement expert of the War Savings Committee?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt might very well arise that advertisements would be withdrawn on other than business grounds.
§ Commander WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it is fair to use his position to injure the advertisement circulation of a newspaper which 2005 does not come into contact with the Government adversely, and which is, I am informed, one of the best weekly newspapers of the kind?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have looked at some of the numbers referred to, and certainly it would be the last paper to which I,should send an advertisement for the sale of War Loan.
§ Mr. P. A. HARRISWould it not be better, if a newspaper publishes a statement against the interests of the country, to take legal proceedings, instead of this petty persecution?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWIt is not a petty persecution. The advertisements are issued for the purpose of selling War Loan, and if an advertisement in any periodical is not likely to have that effect the money is wasted.
§ 57. Mr. PRINGLEasked whether the advertising expert to the War Savings Committee recommended the insertion of advertisements in the " Cambridge Magazine "; whether, in spite of this advice, advertisements are now withheld by the Committee from this journal on account of the views which it is said to support; if so, at whose instance has this action been taken; and who acts as censor for this purpose on behalf of the Government or the War Savings Committee?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot add anything to the reply which I gave on the 12th November to a question by the hon. and learned Member for York and the supplementary questions thereto.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that the action taken is due to the view taken by the right hon. Gentleman of the opinions of that paper?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo. If the hon. Member will look at the answer, he will see that I state that I took no action whatever in the matter. The only action I could have taken would have been to reverse the decision of the War Savings Committee.
§ Mr. PRINGLEAre we to understand that the War Savings Committee on their own initiative overturned the view of their advertising expert as to the value of this periodical as an advertising medium?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo, Sir; the hon. Member must assume nothing of the kind. I have no knowledge that our advertising agent had considered it.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the case that in the first instance the Government did advertise in this paper?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat does not prevent any business man from changing his mind.