§ Mr. HoosonI wish to obtain your Ruling, Mr. Speaker, on a matter of privilege affecting the privileges of this House.
I draw attention to the magazine Town, the December edition, apparently published today, and an article in it headed, "War with England", which purports to give a description of the Free Wales Army.
In this article, there is a threat, apparently, to the life of a right hon. Member of this House, the Secretary of State for Wales, and to myself and possibly others in conjunction with our duties in accordance with the Oath of Allegiance taken in this House.
I quote from a part of the article on page 48 of the magazine:
The Free Wales Army would dearly like to blow up the Severn Bridge. These days, when they blow things up, the boys go out with sten guns and Dyfed ap Coslett for one would not at all mind using them. 'We shoot to kill', he said, with great passion, pounding one fist in the other. 'Nothing stops us'.'We have dossiers on all the traitors, all of them. Cledwyn Hughes and Emlyn Hooson and all the traitors who have sold Wales out to England.''Sure', said Cayo, who is not so intense, and better humoured, sipping his Guinness, 'and what about the councillor down the road?''I'll have him, too. He's a bloody traitor, I'll shoot him.'Later in the same article there is a description of the production of the guns and this is the description:The guns came out of hiding wrapped in plastic, a Mauser machine pistol, a sten gun1509and magazines of live ammunition, two 38 pistols, a 22 rifle, some shot-guns and sundry other weapons to varying degrees lethal.Of the soldiers it says"The flame, if it comes, when it comes, will come when somebody is shot. It is the way these things usually happen. The fore-runners of the I.R.A., according to Mr. Augustine Birrell, secretary for Ireland in 1916, were a bunch of half-educated lunatics with no popular backing.This is a matter to which I draw attention. I invite you to say, Mr. Speaker, whether there is disclosed in this article a prima facie case of breach of privilege of the House.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. and learned Member will please bring the periodical immediately to the Table.
§ Copy of the said magazine delivered in.
§ Mr. SpeakerI would remind the House that, according to custom, I have a day to consider whether the words of which the hon. and learned Gentleman complained constitute a prima facie breach of privilege. I will rule on the matter tomorrow.
§ Mr. C. PannellOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. While considering that matter, I wonder whether you would reflect on the older precedent where, instead of going through all this from time to time, the House can decide forthwith that the thing represents a contempt of the House so contemptible that we can pass straight on.
§ Mr. SpeakerI understand that one of the Committees of the House has been considering the whole question of privilege and that sooner or later the House 1510 will be considering what is the best way to deal with this whole matter of privilege. I am grateful to the right hon. Member.
§ Mr. MaxwellOn a point of order. Mr. Speaker, I would like to obtain your advice on a matter of privilege, a letter which is published in today's issue of the Illustrated—
§ Mr. SpeakerIt would be elementary courtesy if anyone who wished to raise a matter of privilege would first let the Chair know something about it. This is the first I have heard about this.
§ Mr. MaxwellI have just received the publication which I have in my hand and I have not had any time to consult anybody about what I ought to do about it, Sir. I would be grateful if you would either permit me to raise the matter now, or alternatively, I should be glad to do it tomorrow.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think that the best way would be for the hon. Member to consult me after I leave the Chair.