BACK IN COMMONS

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 3, 28 September 1944, Page 5

BACK IN COMMONS

Captain Ramsay’s Release LONDON, September 26. Captain A. 11. M. Ramsay, M.P. for Peebles, and president of the Right Club, who was taken into custody under Regulation 188 of the Defence Regulations in April, 1940, was released from Brixton prison tonight. A small storm blew up in the House of Commons earlier when the Home Secretary, Mr. Morrison, announced that it had been decided to release Captain Ramsay from detention. Mr. Morrison said: “The success of the United Nations and the certainty that the forces of evil are doomed to complete overthrow has created a situation in which I am justified in taking formerly unjustifiabls risks. The time hag come when it is legitimate to face the risk that Captain Ramsay may be tempted again to engage in irresponsible and mischievous activity. There will be no supervision of Captain Ramsay after his release. “I don’t propose to release en bloc all those who are at present detained on the ground of hostile origin or associations or of having been concerned in acts prejudicial to the safety of the Realm. The time has not come when that can safely be done, but a fresh review of these cases has been undertaken and the release has been authorized Of 70 of the 223 who were still detained at July 31.” Mr. W. Gallacher (Communist) said: “This man is a rabid anti-Semitic and an unspeakable blackguard.” (Cries of “order” and “withdraw.”) Mr. Gallacher refused, whereupon he was ordered to leave the chamber.

Mr. D. N. Pritt, K.C., said: “I wonder if the Minister has been in consultation with the service Ministers to establish how many decent Englishmen have been unnecessarily brought to their death by Captain Ramsay’s activities.” LONDON, September 27. Captain Ramsay, Conservative member for .Peebles, took his place in the House of Commons today, following his release from detention.