Anti-war MP under fire

Stirling Burghs MP Arthur Ponsonby was again under attack for his anti-war views.

The Liberal politician was a member of the Union of Democratic Control (UDC), which was set up following the outbreak of the war and against military influence on government.

Its members believed the war was the result of secret diplomacy.

The Observer reported that in a House of Commons exchange an Ipswich MP, Capt John Ganzoni, asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department about a leaflet written by Mr Ponsonby and published by the UDC.

He said it had been distributed in York and demanded to know whether any action was going to be taken“in consequence of the statements and imputations contained therein”.

Mr Ponsonby said the leaflet had been passed by the censor before publication.

Home Secretary Sir George Cave said he was considering the matter.

York MP Mr Butcher said: “In view of the pestilential character of the leaflet, is the right honourable gentleman going to take steps to prosecute Mr Ponsonby.”

Another MP asked whether a leaflet passed by the censor could be of a “pestilential character”, to which a Labour opponent said:“Are there any pro-Germans in the censor’s office?”. There was no reply. Just weeks before Mr Ponsonby had been heckled when he addressed a meeting of more than 1200 at the Albert Hall, Stirling.