CAB38-23 — Page 51

Page 51

Page 51

SECRET.

Report.

BY the second part of their terms of reference the Sub-Committee are directed to consider the nature and degree of censorship to be imposed upon the Press in time

of war.

2. The difficulty to be met is, that in times of tension the Press has endangered the interests of the country by the publication of naval and military intelligence which it was of importance to withhold from an enemy; and it is feared that these indiscretions, which are fraught with great peril to the State, will be continued even after hostilities have been declared.*

3. Two instances will suffice to illustrate the absence of the sense of responsibility on the part of the Press in the United Kingdom when dealing with naval and military precautions in a time of crisis.

The

4. "Towards the end of 1898, when the country was believed to be on the eve of war with France, the newspapers contained exhaustive information concerning our defences and our preparations. The composition of the garrisons of all home-defended ports was given, and the artillery and engineer units of the auxiliary forces allotted thereto were named. existence of the submarine defences at Portsmouth, Falmouth, the mouths of the Humber and Mersey was mentioned, and details given of the electric installations at Portsmouth, Falmouth, and other points. The publications of such facts before mobilization gives a clear idea of what would have happened had mobilization been ordered." (C.I.D. Paper, 39-B.)

5. Although the crisis of 1911 never reached the stage when it was considered wise formally to declare the existence of the precautionary period, certain steps were nevertheless taken by the Government, and notices appeared in the newspapers purporting to give correct information concerning the naval movements, the movement of coal, measures of precaution on board ships of war, the steps taken for strengthening the guards on magazines, and many other matters of importance from a naval and military point of view. It is clear that such revelations might well have afforded valuable information to an enemy, and a certain risk of prejudicing the issue of diplomatic negotiations toward a peaceful settlement was in fact involved.

6. The victories gained by Germany, Japan, and Bulgaria were due in no small measure to the secrecy which veiled their operations; a secrecy which extended to the Press. But in this country we have no means of enforcing it.

Summary of Proceedings previous to the Formation of the Sub-Committee.

7. The question of the need, at the outset of war and during hostilities, of some general control of the Press in regard to the publication of naval and military information, apart from the censorship on cable messages, from the seat of war, was raised by the War Office in January 1899, but the subject was shelved without any action having been taken.

* "The Emperor had learnt from the English newspapers-always his best source of information-that Romana with a large part of his forces has marched on Lisbon to join Wellington." Oman: "A History of the Peninsular War," vol. iv, p. 23.

C.I.D. Paper 39 records several other historical examples of the advantages obtained by one belligerent from perusal of its opponent's newspapers.

[238]

C

Page 51

Page 51