§ 32. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint some person in Dublin to approve and pass leaflets under Regulation 27 c and so save the delay and trouble of sending communications to and fro between Ireland and the Press Bureau?
§ Sir G. CAVEAs at present advised, I do not propose to make such an appointment.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a great amount of delay, correspondence, and extra work are thrown upon the Press Censor owing to lack of facilities?
§ Sir G. CAVEIt is better to wait till trouble does arise.
§ 40. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked whether a leaflet, consisting solely of biblical quotations with reference to peace and the methods of war, comes under Regulation 27 c of the Defence of the Realm Act?
§ Sir G. CAVEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a similar question put by him on Monday last.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his answer does not cover my question at all? I asked whether such a leaflet has to be submitted to the Censor. [HON. MEMBERS: " Order, order !"] Has the right hon. Gentleman, in short, arrogated to himself the right to censor Jesus Christ? [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order !"]
§ 42. Mr. ANDERSONasked how many extra officials he estimates will have to be appointed by the Press Bureau in order to deal with all leaflets and pamphlets under Regulation 27 c of the Defence of the Realm Act; and what extra cost will in consequence be thrown on the Exchequer?
§ Sir G. CAVEI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State to questions on this subject on Tuesday last.
§ 71. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the difficulties of administering Regulation 27 c, Defence of the Realm Act, and the consequences likely to follow from its continuation, he will reconsider the advisability of continuing the Regulation, particularly the clauses dealing with the censorship?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere is no question of rescinding the Regulation, but any suggestion for amending it with a view to meeting difficulties in administration will of course be considered.
Sir H. DALZIELIs there any foundation for the statements that have appeared that it is the intention of the Government to modify the Regulation?
§ Sir G. CAVEA communication has been received and is being considered.
§ Mr. MACDONALDIs it the view of the right hon. Gentleman that the series of questions that have been put down have 2207 shown how impossible it is to apply this Regulation fairly, and will he take all these questions into consideration when he is going to amend it?
§ Sir G. CAVEI do not accept the hon. Gentleman's view as to the effect of the questions. I know, at all events, that there is one difficulty in administration which has been pointed out by the hon. Gentleman and others with regard to literature connected with elections.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the " Times," in its leading article, says that the Regulation is quite unworkable?
§ Mr. SHERWELLIs there any foundation for the impression created and which is widespread in the publishing world that it is intended to construe this Regulation to include bound volumes?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have not heard of any such suggestion.
§ Sir G. CAVENo; my hon. Friend is quite mistaken. Some bound volumes may have been seized with a mass of other papers, but not under this Regulation
§ Mr. MACDONALDHas the Secretary to the Press Censor, with the right hon. Gentleman's knowledge, been in communication with certain publishers relating to volumes which are bound volumes and that are now being reprinted?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have not heard of it.
§ Mr. MACDONALDI will give you a case.
Sir H. DALZIELHow soon does the right hon. Gentleman hope to be in a position to declare the intention of the Government in this matter?
§ Sir G. CAVEAt an early date.
§ 72. Mr. MACDONALDasked the Home Secretary whether it is with his sanction that the directors of the Press Bureau have entered into discussion with the writers of leaflets submitted to them under Regulation 27 c, Defence of the Realm Act; and whether he intends that these directors should argue points with writers either for the purpose of gaining an under- 2208 standing of what is written in leaflets or of bargaining for modifications in the statements made?
§ Sir G. CAVEThe directors of the Press Bureau do not know to what the hon. Member refers. They have not, so far as they know, entered into a discussion with the writers of any leaflets submitted under Regulation 27 c.
§ Mr. MACDONALDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of a letter sent by Sir Frank Swettenham to the Women's International League with reference to the leaflet accurately described in my question, in which such arguments and persuasion were used?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have not heard of this case. The director is entitled simply to reject a leaflet, and if in any case he has pointed out the particular passages objected to, this must have been done in order to assist the persons who submitted the leaflet.