HC Deb 13 February 1918 vol 103 cc96-7
Sir ARTHUR FELL (by Private Notice)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any, and if so what, proceedings are to be taken in connection with the article by Lieutenant-Colonel Repington which appeared in the "Morning Post" of Monday last?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Bonar Law)

The article referred to was submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown on Monday last, and it was decided on Tuesday morning to commence a prosecution under Regulation 18 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, and informations were accordingly prepared. These proceedings are being taken with all possible dispatch.

Mr. LOUGH

Was that article seen by the Censor before it appeared?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I do not know, as the case is sub judice, how much I am entitled to say, but I think I am entitled to say that the article was submitted to the Censor, and the Censor refused permission to publish it. It was afterwards published in a different form without being submitted to the Censor.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

Will the proprietors of the "Morning Post" also be prosecuted?

Mr. BONAR LAW

An information has been lodged against the writer of the article and the editor of the newspaper, which, I think, is the usual course.

Mr. HOGGE

Is this soldier still in the Army—[An HON. MEMBER: "No, he is not in the Army!"]—and if not, why is he allowed to use a military title?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I think he is not in the Army, but I would like to have notice of that question.

Mr. RENDALL

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why Colonel Repington is to be prosecuted for an article written in the "Morning Post" while many other articles of a similar nature in the "Times" were never the subject of a prosecution?

Mr. BONAR LAW

The question of similarity in the nature of the articles is rather difficult to decide. This is by no means the first occasion that articles have been submitted in the same way to the Law Officers.

Mr. DUNDAS WHITE

Does the information include the proprietors and publishers as well?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I have said that I believe the usual course was taken in this instance.

Mr. P. A. HARRIS

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this gentleman wrote for three and a half years in the "Times" with perfect impunity without any action being taken against him?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I do not see the relevance of that. Assuming that this is criminal, many a criminal lives a long time before he is convicted.