THE NURSE CAVELL FILM

Evening Star, Issue 19802, 28 February 1928, Page 4

THE NURSE CAVELL FILM

DISGUSSIOH IN COMMONS SIR AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN'S VIEWS NO INTENTION OF SEEING IT. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CONDON, February 27. (Received February 28, at 11.40 a.m.) In the House of Commons, Mr Arnery, in reply to questions, said that he had not; received any request to communicate with the dominion Governments on the subject of the exhibition of the him ‘Dawn.’ The German Government had made no representations to the Colonial Office on the subject. Sir Austen Chamberlain stated that the German Embassy on October 26, 1927, drew the attention of tbe Foreign Office to ‘ Dawn,’ and was informed that the Government had no powers of political censorship. The German Ambassador on January 24 spoke to him on the subject, and as he personally felt strongly on the subject be interviewed Mr T. P. O'Connor and bogged him particularly to give attention to the character of the film when it was submitted to the Board of Censors. Mr Crooksbauk asked: “Have the •members of the German Embassy, the Government’s film adviser, or auv member of tbe Government seen the. film ?”

Sir Austen Chamberlain replied: *' 1 have not seen it, and, for the reasons already explained, do not propose to sec it in any circumstances.” Kir Austen’ Chamberlain continued that the Government’s adviser on November 3, 1927, told him that Mr Wilcox had thus described tho shooting scene;—“One of the firing party definitely refuses to level his rifle at Nurse Cavell and is shot on the spot. Tho rest line up, and on the order ‘Fire!’ raise their rifles in order to fire above her bead. She falls to the ground fainting, and an officer steps forward and despatches her.” “I believe this is an entirely incredible version of the event,” Sir Austen Chamberlain said. “ I fed it is an outrage on flic noble woman’s memory.”

Commander Keuwortby asked why was no objection taken during the preparation of tho film, ami Kir Austen Chamberlain replied; “1 have other things to attend to than study forthcoming films and newspapers, and therefore acted on Mr Wilcox’s description of the film to the advisor.” Sir Austen Chamberlain said that it was not true Unit nobody in authority had seen the film. The Government’s adviser saw the film and discussed n with Mr Wilcox.

Sir Austen ■Chamberlain, furl her questioned, said that his own objection to tho film was restated by Lord Birkenhead in the ‘Daily Telegraph’ on Saturday. What bo did in the matter was undertaken on his own responsibility. Jf be had to act again he would do tho same.

Sir Austen Chamberlain told a questioner that the exhibition of the German film ‘ The World Through Gorman Spectacles ’ was prohibited in the occupied territories by the Hhiueland High Commissioner.—A. and N.Z. and ‘ Sun ’ Cable.