§ Sir W. Davisonasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the German anti-British propaganda organisations make use of the activities of the Peace Pledge Union and certain other similar societies of insignificant membership to misrepresent the determination of all classes in Great Britain and the Empire to prosecute the war to a victorious conclusion, and suggest by quotations from the literature of such societies that large numbers of persons in Great Britain desire to end the war at once on whatever peace 583W terms are available; and whether, as the misleading of opinion in Germany and neutral countries in this way is most likely to prolong the war, he will take action to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. PeakeMy right hon. Friend fully appreciates the importance of the point to which my hon. Friend calls attention. There is at the present time a special responsibility on all writers and speakers to think of the effect which their words may have not only in this country but abroad, and of the use which may be made of them by the enemy. But, as my hon. Friend will realise, any policy of penalising expressions of opinion by dissident individuals, on the ground that they may give a false impression of British public opinion, would involve a far-reaching interference with those liberties which we are all anxious to maintain.