HC Deb 25 June 1918 vol 107 cc892-3
60. Mr. BUXTON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the advertisement announcing a meeting of the National War Aims propaganda at Manchester on 12th June, at which the chief speaker announced was Carlton, who was described as the world's famour conjurer; and whether he will give the reasons for adopting such methods of putting forward the high aims of the Allies?

70. Mr. OUTHWAITE

asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the advertisement in a Manchester paper of a War Aims meeting in which the list of speakers is headed by a person described as a conjurer; and can he state why this man was engaged for a war aims meeting?

Captain GUEST (Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)

The advertisement in question has only just been handed to me. I admit that the form is somewhat injudicious and liable to misunderstanding, and I will draw the attention of the local committee to it. The gentleman referred to, however, is a good speaker, and gives his services voluntarily wherever the pursuit of his ordinary vocation takes him.

Mr. BUXTON

Will my hon. and gallant Friend direct local committees that the announcement of meetings shall be put in a serious form?

Captain GUEST

I have said so.

Mr. OUTHWAITE

May I ask whether the "world's famous conjurer" acts as art understudy to the Foreign Secretary?

Mr. WATT

Was this conjurer giving a practical illustration of the Government's methods of dealing with the Irish question?