§ Mr. Whiteasked the Home Secretary whether he will state who gave instructions to the police to enter certain newspaper offices on Monday, nth September, and remove copies of newspapers already printed?
§ Sir J. AndersonThe circumstances leading to the action taken by the police970W on this occasion were explained to the House by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal on the 13th September. When the police were informed after midnight that in the interests of national security newspapers containing certain information must not be allowed to reach the public, it was clear that if effective action were to be taken it must be taken immediately. Delay of even a few minutes for the purpose of seeking my authority might have made it impossible to prevent the spread of the information. Accordingly the police felt, and I think rightly, that they would be failing in their duty to safeguard vital interests of national defence unless they took action at once. It is, of course, realised by all concerned that such action without the express authority of the Home Secretary can only be justified in an emergency of so rare and exceptional a character that it is to be hoped it will not occur again.