§ 53. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether Major Ian Hay is on the military establishment; will he say in what capacity he is now employed in America; whether his lectures there are delivered in connection with the British Publicity Department or the British Foreign Office; whether he is aware that Major Hay's lectures in America are collected in a book entitled "Oppressed England," that this book is prohibited by the American authorities from being sent to Great Britain or Ireland, but is being sent to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; whether this book, "Oppressed England," is so treated with the sanction or at the 1056 request of any British authorities as being likely to alienate those Irish of Nationalist sympathies; and whether he has consulted, or will consult, the American Government on this matter?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMajor John Hay Beith ("Ian Hay") retains his commission but receives no military pay, and he is at present in this country. His lectures in America were delivered at the request of the Foreign Office, and I am informed that they dealt exclusively with life at the front, and contained no reference to political matters or to Ireland. So far as the Government is aware, they have not been published in any form.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes; I am well aware of it.