§ 138. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the steps recently taken by U.S. censors to prevent the ventilation in the Japanese Press of views designed to establish improved relations between Britain and Japan; whether this action was taken after consultation with the Advisory Council; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MayhewMy hon. Friend has doubtless in mind a report which appeared in "The Times" of 22nd February, that the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers' Censorship Authorities in Japan had banned the publication in one of the leading Japanese newspapers of a letter to "The Times" by one of our former Ambassadors to Japan. Investigation shows that it was not censored because of its contents, but because, as subequently reported in "The Times" of 25th February, "The Times," as such, had no formal licence to distribute news in Japan. This has been adjusted and the letter has been published.