§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for India between what dates the soldiers in Mesopotamia were prevented writing home except on printed post-cards specially supplied, and of which only a limited number were available?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Since the date (16th February, 1916) on which the War Office assumed control, no such orders were issued.
§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether, having regard to the finding of the Mesopotamia Commission that the active intolerance of all criticism of defects or suggestions for reform had worked evils, he will say whether the field censorship on letters from the front is so exercised as to prevent friends at home knowing what soldiers are suffering or what might be improved; and whether he will state the principles on which censorship of letters from men on active service is enforced; and (2) whether the censorship is, or has been, used to prevent any complaints being sent to persons in this country as to the rationing of the troops abroad or the medical treatment of the sick and wounded?
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§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe principles are stated in Field Service Regulations, Part II., chap. 12, section 100 (6). Any complaint that those Regulations are being exercised in an unreasonable manner would form the subject of inquiry. No such complaints have been received, so far as I know.