SECRET EVIDENCE AT PRESS INQUIRY RAISES STRONG PROTESTS

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 7

SECRET EVIDENCE AT PRESS INQUIRY RAISES STRONG PROTESTS

(N.Z.P.A. Spelial Correspondent.) (ißec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. Strong protests were expressed in the House of Commons against the decision of the Royal Commission inquiring into the British Press to take evidence in secret. The matter was raised by Mr A. Marlowe (Con., Brighton), who asked why accusers of the Press should not come into the open and substantiate their allegations. This was the practice in any British court of law. Mr Attiee replied that the Royal Commission fras not a court of law and that it had been left to decide its own procedure. The commission’s decision' was not a Government responsibility. Mr Haydn Davies (Lab., St. Paneras) said the statement made by the commission that it intended to take evidence in secret was repugnant to those who sponsored the inquiry. Mr Anthony Eden: “ Don’t you really think this rather an extraordinary procedure? In diplomacy we have open covenants openly arrived at. Apparently in this case we will have open covenants secretly arrived at." Mr Attlee: "That is not a Government decision." Mr T. Driberg (Lab., Maldon) said the commission’s decision was not repugnant to all who sponsored the inquiry. Would the Prime Minister bear in mind the possibility of subtler forms of victimisation? Mr Marlowe: "Will the Prime Minister indicate to the commission that this procedure will shake public confidence in any findings it may make? ” ' Mr Driberg: "Rubbish." Mr Attlee said the commission had not yet closed its mind to publishing some of the evidence taken. : It proposed to publish the answers to written memoranda which it would ask particular witnesses to submit.