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workmen. The Joint Committee of the Admiralty, War Office, and Press represen- tatives would meet very shortly, when he hoped to obtain the assent of the last named to a further step in their agreement. The step which he had in view was a proposal that the Press should not only maintain silence as to matters regarding which they had received previous warning from the Joint Committee, but should also refer to the Committee before publication any information acquired, which primâ facie might come under an injunction.

The bodies represented on the Joint Committee included the whole of the news- paper elements in the United Kingdom, but they exercised no control over the over-sea Press. There was an association in embryo for co-ordinating the interests of newspaper societies in the Dominions and Colonies, which was known as the Empire Press Union; but, though it had volunteered to co-operate, its efforts could not be relied upon, as it was but partially organized.

THE CHAIRMAN asked whether it was a long operation to secure the silence of the Press as to any particular matter.

MR. BRADE replied that the operation could be carried out in one and a half hours.

SIR G. GREENE confirmed the above from his own experience.

THE CHAIRMAN said that there were two points for consideration: Would the arrangement made by Mr. Brade and Sir Graham Greene stand the test in the case of some vitally important matter; and would it continue to be effective if either or both of the originators were incapacitated through illness, and unable to use their personal influence.

MR. BRADE stated that he was confident that observance of the agreement by by the Press did not depend upon his personal influence. The Press representatives had pledged their word, and they had a mandate from the whole of the newspapers in the United Kingdom. They had already proved their faith on the two occasions referred to.

SIR G. GREENE thought that the arrangement would work satisfactorily until a certain state of excitement was reached, but he hoped that contemporaneously with that state there would be statutory power to rely upon. Their compact with the Press had been given only a brief trial, and it had certainly been effectual up to date. Further experience would prove the machinery's capacity for effective action. In regard to the second point raised by the Chairman, should both Mr. Brade and he be unable to act, his own assistant was perfectly acquainted with the procedure to be followed.

LORD ESHER asked whether a repetition was possible of the indiscretions of the Press in 1911.

MR. BRADE said that he had discussed the incidents with the Press represen- tatives, who had agreed that they were most undesirable.

LORD ESHER asked whether the persons named in Mr. Brade's note had complete control of the whole of the Press. The existence of the Yellow Press newspapers depended upon the acquisition of sensational matter for publication, and in the past certain of them had achieved a flourishing circulation by imparting secret information. Were any of these particular journals not under control ?

SIR G. GREENE said that it was not to their interest to go counter to the general policy. Newspapers were very jealous of one another, but they understood that it was to their advantage to comply with a common understanding.

LORD ESHER failed to see that it would benefit a newspaper not to take advantage of an important piece of information.

SIR G. GREENE said that Mr. Robbins, the Manager of the Press Association, had explained how contact could be stopped, for instance, with naval centres. Should the newspapers refuse to accept news from such quarters, their action would tend to dry up the source of supply.

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