CENSORSHIP

(1) Pre .—In Tudor times the Company of Stationers regulated printing, under control of Star Chamber. Milton in Areopagitica protested against Parliament’s censorship. It was abolished in 1695. The John Wilkes case, 1764 and ‘Junius’ prosecution, 1770, confirmed right of pre to criticize king and Parliament; and in 1835 pre men were admitted to parliamentary debates. (2) Drama.—In Elizabeth an times the government regulated plays through the master of the revels; in James IL.’s reign the lord chamberlain became censor. Censorship was mainly political. Tn 1642 the theatres were closed by the Puritans. In Charles II.’s reign gro ne in plays was general. The modern censorship dates from 1737, when Walpole muzzled Fielding, who in plays criticized politics; the Act of 1737 limited the number of theatres. By the Theatres Act, 1843, a play must be licensed by the lord chamberl ain (who appoints examiner of play) before public performance; penalty for breach of Act, $150 and forfeiture of theatre license, There is no official in the United States, any of the States corresponding to or in English censor of books and plays. the Censorship on books and other printed is attained by means of laws matter prohibit the circulation of matter which kind through the mails. Judicial of this in most of the States are given bodies power to pa upon the character the presented, of books published and plays to prohibit the presentation with power and the circulation of books. of plays presentation of motion pictures, The of which were deemed unsuitabl e many in the establishment in man resulted whi States of a Board of Censors hi p given the power to direct changes was to be made in these pictures or to vent their presentation entirely. (3) In War.—Object, to prevent formation of value from reaching enemy, to obtain information from indiscretions of the enemy’s pre people, and to control enemy’s of communication. Three cla es—(1) telegraph, (2) mails, (3) printed cations. In (1) special attention is to me ages intended for transmi ion Overseas. During World War cables freque “'y contained information. C (3/4) c (3/4)