§ 4. Mr. GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the publica- 399 tion in a Mexican paper of an official news-letter of a party character, which it is stated has been received at the British Legation, and released for publication; whether it is the custom now for the Foreign Office to issue party propaganda for publication in various countries; and, if so, whether this innovation has his approval?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Darwen on 9th April. The articles are not an innovation and have been issued for the past six years. With regard to the particular article, a copy of which has been sent to me by the courtesy of the hon. Member, it consists mainly of a summary of the findings of the Imperial Wireless Telegraphy Committee. It contains a passage praising the brevity and lucidity of the Report, but it was not meant as, and cannot well be considered, party propaganda.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill the hon. Gentleman see that these articles are not used, as undoubtedly has been the case in the present instance, for the purpose of advertising the merits of the present Government, to the discredit of the former Government?
§ Mr. PONSONBYI do not think that there is any intention of using these articles for propaganda in any way, nor that there can be that construction of this particular article.