§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether it is his policy to encourage the production of all newspapers that can be printed, apart from the political news they advocate; whether news print is being commandeered, and whether it will be rationed out impartially to all newspapers which are able to use it?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)As the "British Gazette" is being published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, which is a branch of the Treasury, I am prepared to answer the question. It has become necessary to requisition provisionally all the news print available which is adapted to the presses employed by the Government newspaper. Arrangements are being made both to manufacture and import further supplies. The increasing circulation of the Government newspaper is making very large demands upon the limited supplies now available. It would be most unwise to hamper the production of what is at present the only means of spreading authoritative information on a large scale throughout the whole country. But subject to this, the Government welcome the revival of independent newspapers not engaged in paralysing the life of the nation. Impartiality will be observed as between employers and employed, mine owners or miners, but His Majesty's Government cannot be impartial as between the State and any section of its subjects with whom it is contending.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYI do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman quite understood my question. I asked whether it would be rationed out impartially to newspapers that could use it. I do not think he could have understood that. I meant that there would be no discrimination against any party newspaper. Of course, if any newspaper broke the law, it would be proceeded against in the ordinary way. What is the intention of the Government?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that aspect is fully dealt with, either directly or indirectly, in the answer which I have given.
§ Mr. KELLYMay I ask why the Government suppressed a suggestion made in this House that would tend to a settlement of the dispute?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member may ask for an answer, but the supplementary question does not seem to me to arise out of the original question.
§ Mr. KELLYOn a point of Order. May I respectfully suggest that it does. We have been told in the answer that the Government would be impartial. That was the answer given by the right hon. Gentleman. I have been working for a settlement of this question, and I am very much concerned. A suggestion was made in this House on Friday last for a settlement of the question from people who are responsible for negotiations. How is it that it was suppressed from the "British Gazette" last Saturday?
Viscountess ASTORDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that, on the whole, the "Times" is more impartial than the "British Gazette"?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not desire to impugn the impartiality of any newspaper. At the time that the Government newspaper was started, it was started in consequence of the Newspaper Proprietors' Association saying that they were not able to publish any paper, and advising that there should be a Government bulletin to offer some news to the whole country. Since then we have succeeded in printing many copies. Last night we printed over 1,100,000 copies, and it is absolutely vital at this moment not to destroy one of the means of keeping the public informed of events.
§ Mr. B. SMITHMay I ask a definite question in the interests of truth being displayed to the people of this country? Will the right hon. Gentleman continue to permit the "British Worker" being published?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have nothing to do with the publication of the "British Worker." That is entirely a question for the Home Office. As far as paper is concerned, a provisional embargo has been placed upon that newspaper as well as 691 upon the paper reserves of many other suitable newspapers, including a very great number of newspapers in London. Later on, when the supplies of paper begin to come in again, when our paper mills get to work and begin to develop their full output—they are already at work—there will be a little more paper for everybody. In that case, any particular organ may be considered.
§ Mr. KELLYMay I ask why it was that a suggestion made in this House to the Prime Minister on Friday, showing him a way that he might explore in order to find a settlement of this question, was suppressed from the Government newspaper, for which we have to pay?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere are a very great many important or unimportant facts which are not published in the very restricted news that is possible at the present time, but an attempt is made to tell the country each day exactly how the matter stands, and what is the position of the country in this most critical period.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman responsible for the reporting of the proceedings in this House, as printed in the "British Gazette"? If so, does he consider that the proceedings as reported in Saturday's "British Gazette" and in to-day's issue, with the colour given to them, are right in a Government publication?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot take all the detailed responsibility, but for the general character of the newspaper His Majesty's Government are responsible, and also for the general character of what is printed or excluded from that newspaper.
§ Mr. KELLYI am not going on my knees to anybody in this world. But, in view of the answer just given by the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask why in the 692 "British Gazette" of Saturday—for which the right hon. Gentleman has admitted responsibility—a suggestion which was made in this House to the Prime Minister for a settlement was not published, although small things were published in the same edition?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have not heard of this particular suggestion.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy time is very fully occupied.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do think this is rather important. I quite understand that there must not be anything that would encourage sedition. But I should like to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer why suggestions which are made for conciliation and a settlement are not published in the Government paper, which the Home Secretary promised would be quite impartial. I would ask whether the Archbishop of Canterbury's very important letter on behalf of the whole of the churches in this country was first of all suppressed in the broadcasting and, I am informed, was not published in the Government "British Gazette." If the Chancellor of the Exchequer tells me I am misinformed, I shall be very glad.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNeither the appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury nor the remarks of Cardinal Bourne were published. It was thought that if one was permitted, the other should be permitted. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"] Generally speaking, the policy of His Majesty's Government in this matter has been fully, clearly and repeatedly explained by the Prime Minister and by others, and that is the policy which the Government organ steadily supports.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI am afraid that I must press the Chancellor of the Exchequer, apart from what was said by Cardinal Bourne. I am referring to the very important conference which was held at Lambeth on Friday of the leaders of the Christian churches in this country, when they decided to send a special appeal to the Government and to the nation. I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he does not think it would have been fair to have published that, and not to have forbidden its being given on the broadcasting, as it was on Friday.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot answer any question about broadcasting, for which I have not even a general responsibility. [HON MEMBERS: "Who is responsible?"] That question must be addressed to the proper Department. As far as the Government newspaper is concerned, it is used to give the country information as to what is proceeding in all parts of the country, and also to sustain the nation in the difficult period through which we are passing. If it is not found satisfactory to all tastes, what a pity it is that all the other newspapers have been suppressed!
§ Mr. HARDIEI want to ask why it is that we are having published in this paper statements made by the Prime Minister, and nothing about the fact that the coalowners posted notices long before the negotiations were broken off? Why do you not tell the whole truth? Honest men would tell the truth.
Captain ARTHUR EVANSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the provincial newspapers, especially in Wales, are very anxious that an official Government bulletin should be issued twice daily, as during the War, through the usual Press agencies, in order that they can give the public the latest official information.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESLike the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George), I want to ask to whom we are to address questions regarding broadcasting in this House.
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)I should like to have notice of that question, but I think it is the Postmaster-General.