§ 50. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minis whether a Defence of the Realm Regulation which forbids any person in 979 any newspaper to purport to describe or to refer to any proceeding of the Convention assembled on the invitation of His Majesty's Government for the purpose of preparing a Constitution for the future government of Ireland has been withdrawn; and, if not, will he say if the owners of newspapers published in England who have been able to accurately describe, and also to comment on, the proceedings of the Convention will be held liable to the penalties prescribed for a breach of the Regulation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Regulation is still in force, and it is of the utmost importance at the present time, when the Convention has reached a critical stage, that the Regulation should be carefully observed. The Irish papers have loyally adhered to it, and the Press Bureau has issued a special warning on the subject to the English Press. If there should he any serious contravention of the Regulation, steps will be taken to enforce it.
§ Major NEWMANHas my right hon. Friend read last week's "Nation" and the remarks by "Wayfarer," which are a perfectly accurate description of the deadlock?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWPerhaps I am not so well informed as to what has taken place. I have not read the paper in question.