PREMIER’S THREAT OF SECURITY CHECK ON M.P.’S CAUSES STORM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22761, 6 October 1948, Page 5

PREMIER’S THREAT OF SECURITY CHECK ON M.P.’S CAUSES STORM

Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.) (11.30 a.m.) CANBERRA, Oct. 6. A stormy debate in the House of Representatives followed a statement by the Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, that the Security Service would have to supervise the activities of -some members of the Opposition whom he accused of being prepared to use stolen documents.

Mr. A. W. Faddcn’s action had V forced the Government to direct the security service to supervise the activities of members of Parliament, saul Mr. Chifley.

lie was referring to the disclosure in the House of Representatives last week by the leader of the Country Party, Mr Fadden, of an alleged s:cret document of the British Cabinet purporting to deal with discussions between Mr. Chifley and the British Cabinet members on the American reluctance to supply defence information to Australia. Mr( Chifley said: “This matter is being thoroughly sifted. Some interesting facts have already been gleaned. No Leakage of Information

He told Mr. Attlee he was convinced there had been no leakage of secret information from British sources. Mr. Chifley said he would not disclose the method of his investigations or how far they had been advanced. 4 After the Cabinet meeting which preceded Mr. Chifley’s statement in u«. House, the Cabinet Ministers said the Prime Minister had indicated he was considering invoking the Crimes Act in the matter.

The Ministers stated Mr. Chifley had informed the Cabinet that no such document as quo ed by Mr. Fadden existed and anything contained in it must have been prepared from memory by some person who was present at the British Cabinet meeting on July 8. The Crimes Act provides for a penally of seven years’ imprisonment for unlawful communication of secret information. Traitorous Things Suggested Mr. H. L. Anthony (Country Party) said that for weeks Mr. Chifley and Mr. Dedman had been contradicting press statements that the United States would not reveal certain information to the Australian Government because it had no confidence in the Governments’ attitude towards Communist influence in certain departments. When he was unmasked by the document, Mr. Chifley became indignant and suggested that traitorous things were being done by those who wanted to expose Australia’s weakness if the Commonwealth had to go to war with Russia. “Stalin in Australian Way” “Now he says he is going to put the Security Service on the trail of the Opposition members,” continued Mr. Anthony. “He is going to be Stalin in an Australian way and all in the guise of love for his country. His love for his country is no greater than that of Opposition members who fought for it. He has no monopoly of patriotism. “What is being done to the Communists who hold key positions in the public service and whose allegiance to Russia would virtually immobilise our service in the event of war?”

Mr. J. J. Dedman, Minister of Defence, said that a bill would be introduced this week to transfer part of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to the Department of Supply and Development. Appointments to _ the council had been made by the Minister on the recommendation of the executive Two Communists had been appointed in this manner. Legislation would be introduced to deal with this position.