§ 6. Mr. Dingle Footasked the Secretary of State for War why the Press were requested by his Department not to mention the movement of certain anti-aircraft units from Lichfield to London prior to a speech by the Secretary of State at the Guildhall in which he revealed that such movements had taken place?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe information in question was communicated by the War Office to the Press, and it was accompanied by a request that it should not be printed pending a statement to be made by me in the city of London. The request was made in order that representatives of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Division and of the City and County Territorial Associations might receive from me an explanation of the reasons for the move, and that all newspapers should be treated on an equal footing.
§ Mr. FootWas there any reason for keeping the actual news of this movement secret except the fact that the right hon. Gentleman was making a speech?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have already answered that question. This information was communicated by the War Office to the Press, and it was requested that it should not be printed except after a certain hour when all newspapers could have it equally.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend realise how much better it would be if we could have a little less "I" and a little more "We"?