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Mr. W. C. Howell ("Naval and Military Record "). Mr. Percy King ("The Regiment ").

Mr. W. H. Russell (“Territorial Service Gazette "). Mr. Edgar Sercombe (" Military Mail").

Mr. Wickhart ("United Service Gazette").

The nature of the agreements-viz., both that explained in my memorandum of 5th November, 1912, and that in Section (1) of the present memorandum-and the scope and functions of the Joint Committee were explained, and after discussion those present agreed to fall in with the wishes of the Admiralty and War Office in regard to both classes of cases, and to respect any notifications in regard to warnings from the two departments which they might receive from the Press Association. Subsequently I received letters from the " Army and Navy Chronicle" and from the " War Office Times and Naval Review," promising similar compliance. In the course of the discussion various difficulties were suggested, and there was some doubt in the minds of the Editors as to how the agreement would succeed in overcoming them. It was decided that after some experience of the working of the arrangements a further meeting would be held to discuss the matter in the light of such difficulties as might have arisen. It was felt advisable to humour the Service journals, as, after all, they live on

Service"

news, and their interests are more directly, and, perhaps, more seriously, affected by suppression of such news.

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Subsequently I saw the Secretary of the Royal United Service Institution and the Editor of the Journal of the Institution and made them fully acquainted with the whole of the arrangements.

of

On the 3rd instant Sir Graham Greene and I discussed with Mr. Chadwyck-Healey The Engineer," and subsequently with Mr. Richardson, of "Engineering," the inclusion of these journals in the agreements, and we received the assurances of both that they would accept them.

Thus only the weekly and monthly journals remain to be dealt with, and in regard to these action is being taken through Mr. Parke and Mr. Robbins similar to that which has successfully secured the adhesion of the Service journals. An early meeting will be arranged.

In conclusion, I should add that throughout these negotiations the Press have warned us of two difficulties.

The first is the danger to the agreement which may arise from any departure from an attitude of severe impartiality on the part of authorities who have to deal with the Press, and supply Editors with information. Departmentally we have promised to avoid all grounds for, even, suspicion of favouritism, and we can only now bring the point to the notice of the higher authorities. It is of the greatest importance to the success of our new understanding with the Press.

The second is the existence of numerous channels through which official informa- tion leaks, irregularly, to the Press. This causes and always has caused much uneasiness to the authorities, but if the Editors act up to their recent undertakings the market for contraband of this sort-of at least the really important kind-will gradually be closed.

THE WAR OFFICE,

R. H. BRADE.

9th January, 1913.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY C. R. HARRISON.-20/2/1918.

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