HC Deb 27 June 1916 vol 83 cc743-4W
Mr. AINSWORTH

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to a telegram to the "New York American" from the London correspondent of the International News Service, dated London, 2nd June, in which it was stated that the Admiralty admitted an overwhelming defeat by a portion of the German high sea fleet; and whether the telegram was passed by the Press Bureau?

Mr. SAMUEL

My attention has been drawn to this alleged telegram which appeared in the "New York American" as having been sent from London. No such telegram was passed by the Press Bureau, and I have ascertained that the passage in question was not included in any telegram sent from this country, but was composed in the New York office of the International News Service, with the exception of the word "overwhelming," which was inserted in the office of the "New York American." There were several cases at the time of the disturbances in Ireland at the end of April in which messages appearing in the "New York American" and "New York Journal," which purported to be from the London correspondent of the International News Service, bore no likeness to the cablegrams actually dispatched, and in some instances gave information which was the opposite of that which had been sent. The Press Bureau have been in communication with the representative of the agency with a view to the prevention of the recurrence of such incidents, and he gave an assurance that no such manipulation of his messages should occur again.