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Extracts from Newspaper reports on “Repeal the Act”
Summons issued against “No-Conscriptionists”
Under the Defence of the Realm Act, the authorities have taken action against the leaders of the No-Conscription Fellowship. Summonses were served yesterday upon the following officers and members of the National Committee: - Edward Grubb, hon. treasurer; A. Fenner Brockway, hon. secretary; W. J Chamberlain, hon. organiser; W. H. Ayles, A Barratt Brown, John P. G. Fletcher and Morgan Jones.
It is understood that the summonses relate to a leaflet entitled “Repeal the Act”and that a further summons ha been served on the Rev. Leyton Richards who was a member of the committee at the time the leaflet was issues.
The summonses will be heard at the Mansion House on Wednesday next.
Aberdeen Journal 13th May 1916
Proceedings again Leaders of the No Conscription Fellowship
Under the Defence of the Realm Act the authorities have taken action against the leaders of the No Conscription Fellowship. The summonses, which were served yesterday, relate to a leaflet entitled “Repeal the Act” and a further summons has been served on Rev. Leyton Richards, who was a member of the committee at the time the leaflet was issued.
Western Times 13th May 1916
No Conscription Fellowship
Leaders summoned for a Leaflet
Summoned under the Defence of the Realm Act the leaders of the No Conscription Fellowship appeared at the Mansion House Police Court to-day
The leaflet it was stated in the summons, was likely to prejudice recruiting. Three-quarters of a million copies were distributed throughout the country. One passage, said Mr Bodkin, prosecuting, ran:- “Our hard won liberties have been violated. Conscription means desecration of principles we have long held. It involved the subordination of civil liberties to military dictation”.
Sheffield Evening Telegraph 17th May
No-Conscription Leaflet
Officials of Fellowship fined £880
Lord Derby as Witness
Leading members of the No-Conscription Fellowship appeared at the Mansion House Police Court yesterday, summoned under the Defence of the realm Act for statements made in a leaflet about conscription entitled “Repeal the Act”
Mr Bodkin, who with Mr Muir, appeared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said that the leaflet no doubt referred to the Military Service Act 1916 and was printed in very large numbers, Mr Chamberlain putting it as high as three0quarters of a million. It was headed “Repeal the Act”and in the course of it it was stated:-
Admit of the principle of compulsion and who can stay the march of militarism? Repeal the Act, that is your only safeguard. What shall it profit the national if it shall win the war and lose its own soul?
Manchester Evening News 18th May
Agitators fined £100 Each
“I have come to the conclusion without hesitation that the pamphlet would prejudice recruiting. I cannot understand anyone having any doubt in that respect. I must inflict the maximum penalty of £100 on each defendant, with @10 costs of sixty-one days’ imprisonment in default of distress”
Thus spoke Sir Alfred Newton on Wednesday at the Mansion House, when seven officers and members and one ex-committeeman of the No-Conscription Fellowship were summoned under the Defence of the Realm Act in regard to a leaflet published by the Association entitled “Repeal the Act”
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 24th May 1916
No-Conscription Fellowship
Leaders Fined £100 Each
Eight officers and members of the No-Conscription Fellowship were each fined @100 and £10 costs, with an alternative of 61 days imprisonment in default of distress, at the Mansion House on Wednesday for an offence under the Defence of the Realm Act in respect of a leaflet which they issued, entitled “Repeal the Act”
Cheltenham Chronicle 20th May
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