HC Deb 24 January 1918 vol 101 cc1133-4
Sir J. D. REES

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, in the Aberystwyth College Magazine, called "Y Wawr," seditious articles are published in the Welsh language such as are calculated, if not intended, to debauch the loyalty of the students and to impede the prosecution of the War; whether this college receives any Grant from public funds; and whether he will inquire into this matter, in view of stopping the publication of such articles and suitably punishing those responsible for their publication?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)

I have made inquiry of the authorities of the college, and I find that no article answering to the description in the hon. Member's question or to that in the newspaper article on which the question was founded has appeared in the college magazine. There can, I am satisfied, be no question of the patriotism of the teaching staff of the college or of its students, the majority of whom are now training for military service, while a large number of the remainder are men who have been invalided from the Army.

Sir J. D. REES

Is not the right hon. Gentleman mistaken? Was not this allegation made publicly in the Press, and not refuted by the college authorities?

Sir G. CAVE

It is for that reason that I have had inquiries made, and I am informed that the article did not appear in the college magazine.