§ 40. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether Lord Beaverbrook and his staff have been installed in the offices of the War Cabinet?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe room which was previously used by Sir Edward Carson is being temporarily occupied by Lord Beaverbrook until other accommodation can be provided, which will be in the course of a few days.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs Lard Northcliffe a member of Lord Beaverbrook's staff?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe information is well within the knowledge of the House. He is employed as Director of the Enemy Propaganda Department.
§ Mr. BILLINGUnder Lord Beaverbrook, or independently?
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEIs Lord Beaverbrook bringing his editor, Herr Blumenfeld with him to this office.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH - BENTINCKDoes Lord Beaverbrook occupy these rooms at the invitation of the War Cabinet?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI really know nothing more about it than that the room in which the work was done by my right hon. Friend before was unoccupied and no other room was available.
Mr. FABERWas the right hon. Gentleman (Sir E. Carson) a member of the War Cabinet at the time he occupied the room?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWCertainly; but I should be very sorry if this Government made it a hard-and-fast rule that a building should not be made use of because it had been previously used by a member of the War Cabinet.
Mr. THOMASApart from the question of the room, does it imply any change in those who are responsible for naval and military intelligence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWOf course not. The explanation has already been given. The room was vacant, it was needed, and it was used.
§ 53. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked whether Lord Beaverbrook has or will have any share in or control over the administration of the Admiralty or the War Office in respect of naval or military intelligence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe answer is in the negative.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKCan the right hon. Gentleman say what is the position of Lord Beaverbrook in regard to naval and military intelligence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI really do not know what my hon. Friend means.
§ 58. Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister whether, considering that the War Aims Committee is engaged in the dissemination of knowledge concerning 1717 our own war aims as regards enemy countries, he will reconsider the question of appointing a Director of Propaganda, or some special Committee, for the proper dissemination in this country of the war aims of enemy countries as regards the British Empire?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot add anything to the answer which I gave my hon. and gallant Friend on the 28th February, except to say that I shall bring his suggestion before the Minister of Information.
§ Colonel YATEDid the right hon. Gentleman hear the lecture given by the Earl of Denbigh the other day, and does he not think that it would be a great advantage to this country if the Government had the Earl of Denbigh as Director of Propaganda in this country, to bring home the aims and objects of our enemies so rapidly and vividly to the people of this country?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have heard of the lecture given by the Earl of Denbigh and of the admiration of those who listened to it. Such information should certainly in some way or other be brought to the notice of the people of this country, and, as I have said, I will bring the matter before the Minister of Information.