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The Order in Council
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The Order in Council
The daily newspapers scatter in fright as the spectral presence of Prime Minister Asquith, the censorious bogey man emerges above them. Censorship was a constant bugbear of the press during World War One
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Media ID 4397825
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10235653
Asquith Bogey Censorship Constant Council Daily Emerges Fright Minister Order Presence Press Prime Scatter Spectral Bugbear
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative image, titled "The Order in Council," captures the tense atmosphere of censorship during World War One in Britain. The spectral presence of Prime Minister H.H. Asquith looms above a scattering of daily newspapers, his stern gaze and outstretched hand exuding a censorious air. The newspapers, once bold and defiant, now tremble in fright at the sight of the Prime Minister, who was known as the 'bogey man' of the press during this period. The year was 10th of January, 1916, and the implementation of the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) had given the government unprecedented power to control the flow of information. The press, which had long prided itself on its role as a watchdog of the establishment, found itself under constant scrutiny and threat of censorship. Asquith's government used DORA to suppress information that could be deemed detrimental to morale or harmful to the war effort. Newspapers were frequently fined, suspended, or even shut down for publishing articles that were deemed too critical of the war or the government. The press was left to walk a fine line between reporting the truth and avoiding the wrath of the censors. This image serves as a powerful reminder of the delicate balance between freedom of the press and national security during times of war. The spectral figure of Prime Minister Asquith, emerging above the scattered newspapers, is a haunting symbol of the government's power to control the flow of information and shape public opinion. The fear and uncertainty captured in the image reflect the constant anxiety felt by the press during this period, as they navigated the treacherous waters of wartime censorship.
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