The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-30
4MUzzLED PRESS"
CRITICIZED BY LAW
People Should Know of War
Affairs, He Says
is A GREAT MISTAKE
Conservative Leader in England Says
Government Censorship of War
Activities is Bad in
Every Way
is A GREAT MISTAKE

London, November 2s.-(Correspondenc,
of the Associated Press.)--"The Muazlec
Press was discussed by Bonar Law
leader of the conservative party, in hi.
address before the House of Commons al
the recent opening Of the special war ses.
sion, and Premier Asquith was asked fol
statement on the governments position
in regard to the suppression of war news
There is a general feeling. which ]
| share" said Mr.. Law, that the press Is
more muzzled than is necessary for mill
tary reasons, and, secondly. If that be So
view Of every other interest in this coun-
try. 1t may be that to large extent the
government is powerless. Our army in
France Is only part of great force, and
1t would be quite right that we should
not do anything that by any possibility
could injure the operations of that force
which was against the wishes of the gov
eminent responsible for the chief part of
the force. 1 quite admit that, but would
like to impress upon the government that
where there are not military reasons there
can be no other reasons for keeping back
information as to what our soldiers are
doing. 1t is bad In every way. 1t is bad
for ,.or,,,.,,,,r ~,
ioi recruiting one OF the honorable
members opposite spoke of the action of
the London Scottish. I think we are all
proud of them. but thew are NOT the only
regiment. The effect of their action was
Immediately to stimulate recruiting for
the London Scottish There are other
regiments TO nv ltnow,edge renrssertino
other districts IN +ha oo,,,.r,, r,,,,,o,, -
- ~ '"e oouh'iy "hioh nave
lousht as pravely and suffered losses
bravely, and the people of those districts
know notbirp
"A treat Mistake
II am sure that nothing could be a
greater mistake-I. am not s,ggost,rg tho
the government is acting for tb,s roc cor,
than osupnose there u,o,,,a ,,a 49,, -
vantage anart fron, ,,,,,,ta,., W ,.s ny ~
lions ~ Iatt,,u ~, eo''uei
have been haa,.,, nv" 'neie
bava 49,. 80 'oSses "heh sucn iosses
good that ~, p" 49,, ~ lne uonerary, II Is
r. +,,,.s- snuuiu teii them. one OF
.ae 'nihsse "nicn as nation we have
most reason SO far as the civilian popu-
a.ion 10 eoncerneo' 10 De proud of Is that
what most stimulated recruiting In this
country was not eloquent speeches, or
AWNING OF that Kind, 1t was the knowl-
edge OF the risks which our soldiers were
running which made our recruits join the
army
personally l should have preferred.
Ii it were possible, to have accredited
reporters at the seat of war. That may
be impossible, but I do hope the gov
eminent will try to give all the in
foi nation that can be given apart from
military considerations and they will
tell the House frankly the principle
upon which they are acting in regard
to the whole matter. l am quite sure
| that nothing could be worse than to
! conceal misfortunes,, IL we have any
from the people of this country. 1 do
| not mean that 1t may not be right to
delay publication of Incidents, per-
haps for considerable time for stra-
tegical reasons but / am sure 1t would
be wrong for us to do what may have
been right in the case of Japan, to
conceal disasters until the war is over.
The main object with us would be to
p'eveht panic ana In my peilef one
.ning which would cause panic would
the people OF THIS country got
the ioea tnat they DO not know the
"moie truth.
me press tnroughout England has
a.triputeu siackness In recruiting very
scquentiy MT Law was voicing an
opinion when mas been current In the
o".oeo Kingdom Tor many weeks.
Wnad Is the principle which ought
70 govern us!.. Mr.. Asquith remarked
IN mis- reply You should be ready 70
divulge everything. whether favorable
or ADVERSE, subject only to military
CONSIDERATIONS. can say with the ut
most confidence that as far as we are
concerned and as far as we have re-
sponsibility In the matter, that Is the
principle on which We have acted
throughout. Whatever has been con-
cealed, or rather withheld-for quite
asree there is dlrrerence between per-
manent concealment and temporary
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES has been
withheld has been withheld simply De-
cause. In the opinion OF our military
ana navai ADVISERS ana CUISINES. !. !.
was inexpedient that for the moment u
should be divu!sed lest II give the
enemy an advantage ne wouio not oeh
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