§ 5. Major Tufton Beamishasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that newspapers produced and edited overseas for the use of British troops serving overseas are presenting a fair picture of home and foreign affairs free from political bias.
§ Mr. BellengerYes, Sir.
§ Major BeamishCan it be, Sir, that the right hon. Gentleman is too easily satisfied, and will he say whether the officers who run these newspapers are appointed from a political or a purely military point of view?
§ Mr. BellengerThey are certainly not political appointments. We have no politics in the Army.
§ Major BeamishWill the right hon. Gentleman, by way of testing this, take in the "Morning News" from Austria every day and then tell me whether he is of the same opinion?
§ Mr. BellengerI will certainly take an opportunity of looking at some of these newspapers.
§ Mr. GallacherIn view of the answer which the Minister has just given, will he kindly instruct M.I.5 that there are no politics in the Army?.
§ Mr. BellengerI do not know that I have any power to instruct M.I.5.