§ 45. Mr. HOLTasked the Prime Minister whether the Propaganda Department is circulating Viscount Grey's pamphlet on the League of Nations amongst neutral and enemy countries?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Ministry of Information has given Viscount Grey's pamphlet a wide circulation in neutral and enemy countries.
§ Mr. KING(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether a pamphlet entitled the League of Nations by Viscount Grey of Falloden has been published in disregard of Regulation 27 c; whether he has inquired of the author, and the publishers, the Clarendon Press, Oxford, their reasons for disregarding this Regulation; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BRACEI am advised that the pamphlet referred to is not one which comes within the terms of the Regulation. It has to do not with the "present War or the making of peace," but with the state of the world after peace has been made. In the words of the pamphlet, "The establishment and maintenance of a League of Nations is more important and essential to a secure peace than any of the actual terms of peace that may conclude the War."
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the terms of his own Regulation which are "intended, or likely to be used, for propagandist purposes in relation to this present War and the making of peace," and that in connection with speeches on the War the pamphlet has already been largely quoted even by members of the War Cabinet?
Mr. CHANCELLORDid the right hon. Gentleman before drafting the reply read the pamphlet, and is he aware of its contents?
§ Mr. ANDERSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are repeated references in the pamphlet to the rulers of Europe and to President Wilson, to 1224 this War and to the outcome of this War, and that the only thing that would justify the War—
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe cannot have the whole of the pamphlet read.
§ Mr. ANDERSONI want to ask—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of any further questions.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLOn a point of Order. You may recollect that a short time ago I desired to put by private notice a question to the Under-Secretary of State for War with regard to a prisoner who had been landed on the West Coast of Ireland. You, Sir, in your discretion, would not allow me to put that question on the ground that urgency was required for questions by private notice. I want to-ask what is the urgency of the question to which we have just listened?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe urgency is this: If the law is being violated, it is undesirable that it should continue to be violated.
§ Mr. KINGI beg to give notice that, in view of the extraordinary answer, I shall call attention to this matter on the Adjournment to-night.