57. Mr. GRATTON DOYLEasked the Prime Minister whether it has been brought to his notice that reports are in circulation in America that the British censorship is making use of its opportunities to gain information concerning the business of American firms for the benefit of British trade rivals; whether he will set up an inquiry to discover the cause of these reports; and whether steps will be taken immediately to remove from the minds of the American public such suspicion as has been aroused?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)Yes, Sir; these reports have been brought to my 806 notice. In no ease, however, have sufficient particulars been supplied to enable the statement to be investigated. Without any particulars it is, however, possible to give a definite assurance that at no time has the British Censorship been employed to assist British firms at the expense of their rivals in Allied or neutral countries. If any specific instance of alleged abuse of the censorship is given, it will, of course, be immediately investigated, but, as I have stated, no such instance has been given.