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As regards the Army, the main objects for which a precautionary stage of defence has been devised are to make provision, without mobilization, to ensure :-

"(a.) That the ports in which our fleets will mobilize, and upon which they will

be based in war, are safeguarded against surprise attack.

"

'(b.) That vulnerable points, such as magazines, stores, and factories of war material, wireless telegraphic stations, important points in railway com- munications and certain coal mines, are safeguarded, not so much against the armed forces of an enemy as against attacks of a more treacherous nature by agents of an enemy, or other ill-disposed persons.'

"

He thought that the Committee were agreed upon two points: that the friendly arrangement with the Press should be given a fair trial, and that a Bill for the control of the Press should be kept ready to be put into force on an emergency arising. The next question was whether the Bill should be introduced on the establishment of a precautionary period, or whether it should await the outbreak of war.

SIR G. GREENE said that he concurred in the opinion expressed in paragraph 32 of the Secretary's note that the precautionary period was a most inopportune time for proposing to muzzle the Press, as it was inconceivable that a Government, while devoting its diplomatic efforts to averting war, would take so significant a step.

THE CHAIRMAN said that there were two alternatives: either to introduce the Bill as soon as possible, or to rely upon the working of the agreement with the Press through the full period of tension up to the issue of orders for mobilization. He proposed the following resolution for acceptance by the members :-

"The Sub-Committee are of opinion that the friendly understanding arrived at with the Press is a great advance on the previous position, and should be given a fair trial. They recommend that a Bill for the control of the Press be introduced on the outbreak of war, or at such time as the Prime Minister may think desirable."

Draft of Bill.

THE CHAIRMAN said that the Committee should consider the form which the Bill should take.

MR. BRADE said that the Committee might note in their report that

" The Official Secrets Act, 1911," might in certain circumstances be used against a news- paper.

THE CHAIRMAN said that he had referred the point to the Attorney-General, whose decision was that the Government were bound in honour not to employ the Act against editors or other persons connected with the Press. The House of Commons had been induced to pass the Bill as an emergency measure, on the understanding that it would be directed against the class of spies, and not for the purpose of muzzling the Press.

MR. BRADE asked whether the successors of the present Government would be bound by the understanding.

MR. DENNIS said that, whether they were bound or not, it would be very difficult to obtain the conviction of an editor if a jury had any suspicions as to the intentions of the Act.

COLONEL MACDONOGH said that the Official Secrets Act gave power to deal with persons who, as suggested by Sir Eyre Crowe, might supply information to a foreign Press.

MR. DENNIS said that it covered a correspondent of a foreign newspaper, as he was not privileged.

LORD ESHER asked whether the manager of the Press Association had seen the draft Bill.

MR. BRADE said that a great many newspaper people had seen it, and were rather perturbed in consequence. They were very suspicious of each other, and were afraid that the Bill might be used in an unfair manner.

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