From The Spectator, 28 November 1914:
In the Commons on Monday Mr. Wedgwood, who has served with the Naval Division in Belgium, asked for instructions as to what civilians were to do in the event of invasion. Were they to hand over their weapons to an appointed authority, or keep them and use them? The Government ought to tell the country. Mr. Tennant said that it was undesirable at present to issue any instructions. But surely now is the time for the Government to take the nation into their confidence. If a raid comes it will be sudden. It will be too late then for civilians to hand over their weapons, or for the Government to prevent them from acting on instinct. We cannot understand the Government’s peculiar reluctance to be frank and open with the nation on such vital matters. Mr. Bonar Law protested against the Solicitor-General’s interpretation of the powers of the Press Bureau. To assert that criticism could be punished by one knows not what penalties because it ” might destroy public confidence in the Government” was a threat against the rights and the freedom of the country. The whole House apparently agreed with this very necessary and excellently worded protest.
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