16.10.1997

The Dreadnought suppressed

From 'The Call', paper of the British Socialist Party, October 11 1917

Our courageous contemporary, The Workers’ Dreadnought, edited by Miss Sylvia Pankhurst, has been suppressed by the authorities.

Without previous intimation being given, or any reason offered at all, the police entered the premises of the National Labour Press and broke up the type of last week’s issue. They then demanded an undertaking from the manager of the press not to print the paper, under the penalty of having the press dismantled if he did. Under the circumstances Mr Francis Moss was compelled to give the undertaking. Up to present no printer has been found willing to print the paper.

We express our sincere sympathy with our comrade Miss Pankhurst, and hope that her embarrassment will be temporary. The Workers’ Dreadnought was outspoken in its criticism of the exploiting class. It was a staunch internationalist paper, and a strong champion of the wives and dependants of those who had gone out to fight for freedom. That it should have called down upon itself the displeasure of the powers that govern us is no occasion for surprise. But the manner in which that displeasure was made manifest calls for a strong protest from all those who still believe in the sacredness of freedom of expression. If anything had been published which was contrary to law, why were not proceedings taken against the publishers? In this case the nature of the offence has not even been indicated.

The threat to the National Labour Press is a sheer act of terrorism, and shows what little respect for law the governing class has when it desires to remove any obstacle from its path.

While ostensibly refusing to make peace with Germany because its government is not subject to popular control, the government is engaged in endeavouring to stamp out any attempt to secure the expression of the people’s desires for this country.