SCOTLAND YARD SENSATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17296, 7 November 1921, Page 7

SCOTLAND YARD SENSATION.

DISMISSAL OF SIR BASIL THOMSON. __ I SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. (Bt Cable—Preas Association—<Topjrirfct.) (Australian and N.Z. Cab'.e Association.) LONDON, November -t. The Australian Press Association understands that while Sir Basil Thomson has long been the object of Labour antagonism, the event which culminated in his summary dismissal was the almost successful interference of the Sinn Feiners with Mr Lloyd George when the Premier left Chequers. It is no secret, in official quarters in London that Mr Lloyd George had the narrowest escape from a distressing experience; indeed, it is more than a suggestion that there were a few seconds only between him and tragedy. The responsibility for this was unreasonably thrown on Sir Basil Thomson. A ere at deal is made by the Home Secretary, Mr E. Shortt, of the fact that Sir Basil Thomson refused to co-operate with General Sir William Horwood, Commissioner of tho Metropolitan Police. The facts are that Sir Basil Thomson was a trusted official at Scotland Yard before Mr Shortt employed Sir William Horwood as Chief Commissioner of Police in 1920. Sir Basil Thomson objected to Sir William Hotwood's appointment, as he considered him unsuitable, and approached Mr Shortt, who arranged with Sir Basil Thomson that he, as officer in charge of the Special Intelligence Department, should have direct access to the (Minister. Mr Shortt objected to this arrangement being placed on record, on the grounds that he and Sir Basil Thomson were honourable men, which was good enough. Later, when the unemployment crisis arose, it is an undoubted fact that Sir Basil Thomson becamo cognisant of the existence of grave undercurrents, worked by the Communists, and sometimes non-British Communists. Tho situation became so grave that Sir Basil Thomson by virtue of his experience and General Horwood's inexperience of the London polico, and in view of Mr Shortt's undertaking giving him direct access to the Minister, did not consult General Horwood, preferring to deal with the fountain head. Tho Labour Party undoubtedly interfered in tho matter, with the result that Sir Basil Thomson was made a scapegoat and sacrificed. [A previous message said Ministers were heckled in the House of Commons concerning; the dismissal of Sir Basil Thomson," head of the Special Secret Service Force of Scotland Yard. The Home Office declared it was impossible to continue Sir Basil Thomson's appointment because he had failed to harmonise with the Civil Commissioner of Police. It is alleged, on the contrary, that he was sacrificed in order to secure the post for Sir Joseph A. Byrne, nn Irish Catholic, who recently was dismissed from tho post of InspectorGeneral of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The question became complicated later when Mr E. Shortt, Home Secretary, announced that Sir Joseph Byrne, learning of the unpleasant character of tho proceedings in the House of Commons, had declined to accept the offer which Mr Shortt admitted had been made to him.]