§ 40. Mr. Dingle Footasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons which recently led to a censorship being 1864 imposed by the Cyprus authorities on the newspaper "Embros"; and whether he will specify the article or articles which were thought to justify such a step?
Mr. MacDonaldUnder the Cyprus Press Law, the Colonial Secretary of Cyprus is empowered to impose censorship upon a newspaper when he is satisfied that it is in the public interest to do so, and this was the reason which prompted him to take the action referred to by the Member. The Colonial Secretary is not required to specify any particular article or articles. I may add that, though the proprietor of the "Embros" did not exercise his statutory right of appeal in this matter, the censorship was in fact removed early in February last.
§ Mr. FootIs it not the fact that this censorship was imposed on the day following the publication of an extremely mild and inoffensive leading article on the subject of the freedom of the Press?
Mr. MacDonaldI am not prepared to add to the statement which I have already made. As I have indicated in my answer, the matter was satisfactorily settled many weeks ago.
§ Mr. FootIs it not reasonable to ask the right hon. Gentleman to give the reasons why this action should have been taken?
§ 41. Mr. Footasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the reasons why the Cyprus authorities last year banned the film of the funeral of Kemal Ataturk and the film of a recent wedding in the Greek Royal Family, while films depicting Nazi and Fascist activities were allowed to be shown?
Mr. MacDonaldFilm censorship in Cyprus is exercised by a body composed partly of officials and partly of non-officials, on which I understand that the principal local communities are all represented. I do not exercise any detailed control over their proceedings, and am unable to say what reasons may have guided them in reaching particular decisions.