§ Mr. TREVELYANasked the Home Secretary whether he can consider remitting part of the sentence of imprisonment of Edward Fuller, who was sent to prison for ninety-one days for desiring to publish a placard to the effect that war will become impossible if all men were to have the view that war is wrong; and since when has it become a crime to placard platitudes?
Mr. SAMUELEdward Fuller was convicted of attempting to publish a placard containing statements intended to prejudice recruiting, contrary to Regulation 27 under the Defence of the Realm Act. The placard contained a sentence from a speech delivered by counsel appearing on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions in a previous case, in which he was describing what were, not his own views, but the views of the persons whom he was prosecuting. The placard took this sentence apart from its context, and represented it as conveying the opinion of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was headed "The Public Prosecutor on War," and dishonestly made use of his name to promote the objects of the No-Conscription Fellowship. The sentence imposed Joy the Court was a fine, with imprisonment in default of payment. I cannot advise remission of any part of it.
§ Mr. TREVELYANasked the Home Secretary whether the report upon which he depends in pronouncing Mr. Bertrand Russell's speech at Cardiff to be anti-British was taken down by a trained reporter or by the police; whether he is aware that Mr. Russell denies the accuracy of part of the report as expressing opinions which he does not hold and never could have expressed; and whether it has become the practice of the Government to 1579W restrict the liberties of Britons on evidence which is never placed before them, and which they have never had an opportunity of contradicting?
Mr. SAMUELIn answer to the first part of the question, the report of the speech was made in ordinary course by a trained reporter on the staff of a leading newspaper, and the transcript of the verbatim notes was afterwards sent to the Home Office at the request of the Department. In answer to the second part of the question, I am not aware which are the passages of the reported speech the accuracy of which Mr. Russell denies, or how far he repudiates the attack, as it was reported, on the British case for entering the War and continuing to wage it. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, but in time of war it is sometimes necessary for both the military and the civil authorities to take summary action.
§ Mr. TREVELYANasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement of the deputy stipendiary at Birmingham in the case of Councillor Kneeshaw on 22nd September that he must convict, as the pamphlet was an indirect attack on military Conscription; and whether, in view of the explicit statement of the Government that opposition to Conscription was not illegal, he proposes to take any action in the matter?
Mr. SAMUELI understand that an appeal has been lodged against this conviction. Until it has been heard, I cannot say anything with regard to the case.