HC Deb 21 December 1944 vol 406 cc1930-1
42. Mr. Keeling

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a Defence Regulation making it an offence to speak on an enemy broadcasting service.

Mr. H. Morrison

I do not think that it would be possible to justify the making of a Defence Regulation declaring to be a crime such an act which involved no offence when it was done. As regards the future, I would not have thought that a Defence Regulation such as my hon. Friend suggests would serve any useful purpose, if only because at this stage of the war few British subjects are likely to be ready and able to broadcast on an enemy broadcasting service. Moreover, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General has already explained to the House, broadcasting with intent to assist the enemy is an offence, which is punishable by death if the offender is convicted of treason or by penal servitude for life if he is convicted of an offence against Defence Regulation 2A.

Mr. Keeling

Does the Minister realise that there is no suggestion in my Question that this penal provision should be antedated, and does he not appreciate that there is a strong feeling in the country that the enemy ought to be deprived of the assistance of British broadcasters, which he evidently thinks is valuable or he would not use them?

Mr. Morrison

It is already an offence if it is shown that the person concerned had the intention to aid the enemy, and, at this stage, I do not think we are losing much by the existing state of the law.

Mr. Quintin Hogg

If this broadcasting is, in fact, of advantage to the enemy, what does it matter whether the intention is to aid the enemy or not? How many of these other Regulations make an in- tention of aiding the enemy an ingredient of the offence?

Mr. Morrison

There is plenty of variation in the Regulations, and I think my hon. Friend has raised a legal point which was dealt with in the Debate.

Sir W. Wakefield

Is not the use of words on the wireless just as wounding as many a machine-gun bullet; and ought it not to be made an offence, the same as shooting?