§ 20 Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the American magazine, "Time," has been censored several times recently in this country, either by having passages blacked out or cut out; and whether, when any papers are treated in a similar manner in future he will ensure that a notice is pasted on them indicating that the journal is not complete, so that purchasers will know they are purchasing mutilated copies?
§ Mr. LLOYDI understand that before this American paper is offered for sale in this country, defamatory paragraphs which it contains have been cut out, presumably in an effort to avoid proceedings in our Courts which might provide a remedy to those who are libelled. Such excisions are not, of course, the action of His Majesty's Government or due to any official censorship, and the steps proposed in the question are not within my right hon. Friend's powers.
§ Mr. MACLEANSince these passages dealing with certain things which have been printed in other papers in this country have been cut out, does not the Under-Secretary of State consider that the sale of a mutilated copy of the paper, without having a notice to that effect upon the paper is selling goods under false pretences, and ought to be punished?
§ Mr. MACLEANI think he has.