HC Deb 29 March 1912 vol 36 cc839-41W
Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a passage in the "Labour Leader" of 22nd March, stating that before the present prosecutions were instituted soldiers were urged to refuse to shoot their kinsmen who were battling

against poverty if they were ordered to do so, and repeating that advice; and, if so, does he propose to prosecute the editors and printers of that newspaper for that advice; and, if not, on what grounds does

he justify the prosecution of Bowman and Buck for giving similar advice?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

I do not intend to institute proceedings against the editor or printers of the newspaper in question for the publication of the 22nd March. I refer my lion. Friend to the answer given by me on the 26th instant to the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham. As I have already stated in the House on more than one occasion, I proceeded with the prosecution of those whose names appeared on the sheet of the "Syndicalist" as responsible for its publication.

Mr. OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSON

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to an article, entitled "Soldiers and Strikes," in the "Labour Leader" of 1st March; and what steps he intends to take in the matter?

Sir RUFUS ISAACS

I do not propose to take any steps with reference to the matter for the reasons I explained recently to the House.