THE CENSORSHIP OF NEWS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2575, 24 September 1915, Page 5

THE CENSORSHIP OF NEWS

CRITICISED IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT By Telegraph—Prc6s Association—Copyright (Rec. September, 23, 7.15 p.m.) London, September 23. In the 'House of Commons, Sir A. Markham (Liberal) criticised the censoring of news of German origin, which was fully published in America and elsewhere, also the censoring of an American dispatch relating to tho use of neutral flags, whioli was of worldwide importance. ; Ho attributed tlip censorings to Lord Kitchener's decree that tho people of Britain should not receive information. Sir John Simon (Home Secretary), replying, refusod to permit the Press Bureau to act as an advertising ayent for Germany, and insisted on .the acceptance of the judgment 'by the Press Bureau, and the Admiralty regarding the necessity of suppressing portion of German communiques. The Government was not aware of the truth or falsity of tihe explosion reported to have taken place recently at the Oehta Arsenal, near Petrograd. Mr. J. M. Hodge asked why .foreign journalists were permitted to visit the Fleet, while the British correspondents were not permitted to do so, and whether it was truo that the Fleet had sunk fifty German submarines. Everybody knew that that was a fact. He oouid understand the Admiralty's concealment of the means of their destruction.

Mr. J. King charged tho Press Bureau with deliberately, deceiving the country. Britain was entitled to know the situation regarding Rumania, and also the British policy towards the Balkan's. We ought to be easily able to bring Bulgaria into line with the Allies. She was a- friendly Power, and keenly devoted to us by -tradition and ancient sympathy. Our position was not more satisfactory because of our lack of both polioy and generalship. Sir John Simon-said that the Press Bureau was bound to be rather a creaky and lumbering machine, ; but justice demanded that allowaince should be made for the energy and sympathy displayed by those who were conducting it.