§ 35. Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for India whether he has considered the many examples submitted to him by the hon. Member for North Lambeth of censorship of news from India on purely political grounds having no possible relationship to security interests; and whether he will give an assurance that the possibility of not applying censorship on political grounds is now being carried out.
§ Mr. AmeryI understand that the hon. Member has in mind certain examples cited in a recently published article, which are stated to have occurred between June, 1943, and February, 1944. As regards the general policy under which censorship of outward messages is exercised by the Government of India, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Miss Ward) on 8th June.
§ Mr. StraussMay we take it from that reply that there has been some change in policy since these examples of political censorship occurred?
§ Mr. AmeryThe answer I gave was framed in consultation with the Viceroy and it represents the present position of the Government of India.
§ Mr. StraussCan I press the right hon. Gentleman again? The examples I gave showed clearly that there was a political censorship in the early part of this year. Can we take it that there has been a change in policy and that there will be no such censorship in future, because the statement made by the right hon. Gentleman on 8th June did not indicate any change of policy but merely stated what the policy of the Government of India was?