The growth of feeling in Britain against the publication of reports of divorce proceedings was. interestingly illustrated on March. 6, when a deputation of members. of Parliament waited on the Lord Chancellor to ask for some measure of prevention. It was stated that the petition they brought was backed by 250,000 signatures. throughout the country. Sir Evelyn Cecil, in introducing the deputation, pointed out that, the. extent of the evil of reporting these proceedings was very widely admitted, that it lowered public morals and taste, that it depended on the discretion of the Press, and that certain remedies. were possible, apart from any action taken by the Public Prosecuter or any prosecution which might lie under common law. It was not so much specific phrases which were objected to, but, that. the whole tone of the reports was often derogatory and revolting. He wondered sometimes whether the Press themselves could not get. together and agree. The Lord Chancellor said there was no doubt as to the law in the matter, and that it was always open for the Attorney-General to take proceedings where he thought it would he to the public interest to do so. At same time, the Lord Chancellor said, it would be most unfortunate
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.