§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that an artificial atrocity film, called the "Auction of Souls," is being exhibited in this country; whether this film has been censored; whether he is aware that this film has caused offence to British subjects professing the Moslem faith; and whether it is the policy of His Majesty's Home Office to permit the exhibition of films of this nature in the future?
Sir J. D. REESasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that a film called the "Auction of Souls," reinforced by pamphlets and books on the same subject, is being exhibited in this country; and whether the attention of the Censor should be directed to the matter in view of the Peace Treaty not yet concluded with the Ottoman Empire?
§ Mr. SHORTTMy attention has been called to this film. There is no Government censorship of films; and I am informed that the film was not submitted to the voluntary censorship which has been established by the trade itself. In1086W consequence, however, of certain representations which were made to me by Moslems in this country, that the film was I calculated to hold up the Moslem Faith t to public odium, I communicated with the owners of the film, and certain alterations were made by them in the sub-titles of the pictures in order to remove any suggestion that the persecution was of a religious character. As there is no official censorship of films, the question of the Home Office permitting the exhibition of films of this character does not arise.