Wilson Apologises In Libel Action

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 17

Wilson Apologises In Libel Action

(NJ.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 19. The British Prime Minister (Mr Wilson) apologised through counsel in the High Court on Fnday for an election campaign statement which led to a libel action against him.

Mr Wilson will also pay costs of the action, brought by the chief of a firm where several workers were on strike during the 1964 General Election campaign. The apology was made to Mr Herbert Hili, chairman of a Birmingham car components company.

During a four-minute hearing. counsel read an agreed statement disposing of the faction. The statement said several inspectors at the firm’s factory last September were engaged in a strike which had dislocated production throughout the British motor industry. Mr Wilson, as leader of the Labour Party, made a statement at a news conference which imputed the firm’s management were guilty, or at least reasonably suspect of betas guilty, at fomenting the strike for improper political motives. Mr Wilson now accepted the imputation was completely without foundation, and expressed sincere apologies to Mr HiH and his colleagues.

Bases Net Wanted^—The General Assembly has called on South Africa to remove immediately all military bases in south-west Africa, called for the removal of all other military installations, and said any attempt to annex the territory would be an act of aggression.—New York, December 19.