STATE SECRETS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 April 1933, Page 5

STATE SECRETS

PREVENTION OF PUBLICATION DRASTIC AMERICAN LEGISLATION (United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright) .-WASHINGTON) I <srd April. > Acting, under the rule -limiting debate, the House by an overwhelming majority to-day passed a Bill designed to prevent the publication of State Department secrets. The measure, which.is one of the most drastic' proposals ever advanced in peace time, was prepared by the Department of Justice at the request of the State Department. It provides punishment'up to ten years’ imprisonment and a .10,000 dollars fine for the publication, sale or other utilisation of any official record, document, etc., “prepared in any official code by employees of the Government or ’other persons.” It is understood that jthe measure is the outcome of the attempted publication recently of a book of memoirs setting forth the alleged interception by the American seen# service of messages to the Japanese delegation at the Washington naval conference.