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Mr. D. Duncan, representing the Federation of Southern Newspaper

Owners.

Mr. R. H. H. Baird, representing the Irish Newspaper Society, and

Mr. Ernest Parke, representing the Newspaper Proprietors Association.

Sir Graham Greene explained to the Press representatives that it was desired to come to some agreement as to the naval and military news which in time of war or of emergency should be withheld from publication and also as to the method of giving effect to such an agreement, and for that purpose the Admiralty and War Office were seeking some body representing the interests of the Press with whom a standing agreement could be arranged. In the past the Newspaper Society had been of assist- ance to both Departments but it was understood that that society existed primarily for other purposes.

He understood that certain negotiations had already been conducted which had led up to the present meeting, and that those now attending who represented the Press were there to discuss the question with a view to setting up a standing committee with whom they in Whitehall could make any necessary arrangement when war was imminent, and when it was advisable to limit the circulation of naval and military news.

Mr. Parke said that it would be best to deal at the moment with the Press of the United Kingdom only, and that the Empire Press Union, with whom there had been some negotiation previously, might therefore be left out of account.

Discussion followed on various points, e.g., the use, for the object in view, of the Press Association, the importance of avoiding any favouritism in the distribution of news to journals, as to which the Press and especially the provincial Press were much exercised, and the kind of news which it was desired to suppress. It was explained to the newspaper representatives that the intention was that all papers should be treated alike but, at the moment, the point to settle was whether a body comprehensively representative of the newspaper interests, could be set up; they must leave for subsequent discussion between such a body and the Admiralty and the War Office, the question of the sort of news to be forbidden or withheld, but as an illustration it might be said that at times of tension the Press would be asked to print no reports except when supplied officially, of moves of naval or military units. It was also explained that the initiation of special measures for the suppression of news would emanate from the Admiralty and the War Office, who would give, with the initial warning to the Press, indication as to the state of affairs necessitating the desired reticence. The detailed machinery for carrying out these measures would be discussed later.

The Press representatives were also promised that they would only be asked to restrict the publication of news in really important cases where national interests were

at stake.

Mr. Parke suggested that what was wanted was a small committee of, say, three members representing the interests present at the meeting, who should deal in these matters with a committee from the Admiralty and War Office. After discussion by the newspaper representatives, it was settled that those present could agree upon this, and they undertook to place the proposal before their several federations or societies. In due course Mr. Parke was to communicate to Mr. Brade the formal constitution of the committee. On this being done a further meeting of this committee with the Admiralty and War Office would be held.

A further meeting was held at the Admiralty on the 16th October, 1912, and the following is the official record of the proceedings as prepared by me and accepted by those present.

The meeting was attended by—

Sir Graham Greene, Admiralty.

Brigadier-General H. Wilson, War Office.

Mr. Brade, War Office.

Lieut.-Colonel Macdonogh, War Office.

Sir George Toulmin, M.P., representing the Newspaper Society.

Mr. E. Parke, representing the Newspaper Proprietors Association.

Mr. R. H. H. Baird, representing the Irish Newspaper Society.

Mr. J. R. Scott, representing the Federation of Northern Newspaper Owners

Association.

Mr. D. Duncan, representing the Federation of Southern Newspaper Owners

Association.

Mr. Robbins, the Manager of the Press Association.

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