A PAINFUL SCENE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12887, 13 June 1936, Page 5

A PAINFUL SCENE

MR THOMAS FACES COMMONS. ACCEPTS FINDING WITHOUT CHALLENGE. NEVER CONSCIOUSLY GAVE A BUDGET SECRET AWAY. WILL RESIGN IMMEDIATELY. SPEECH ENDS IN TEARS. EX-MINISTER SITS DOWN AMID DEAD SILENCE. THEN WALKS DEJECTEDLY FROM HOUSE. IC.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). LONDON, June 11. Crowds witnessed the arrival of Mr J. H. Thomas at the House of Commons on the occasion of the debate on the report of the tribunal which investigated the Budget leakages. The Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, answering Mr E. Thurtle, attached no credence to tire allegation that a rise in Newfoundland stocks preceded tho issue of lire report. of tiro commission examining the island’s finances indicated a leakage of official information. Mr J. FT. Thomas rose amid tense silence. Ho said that no member had ever addressed the House under such painful circumstances, and he. hoped that never again wr.old a member he similarly placed. Referring to Iris resignation from tho Ministry, ho said ho felt sure, that tho House would agree that he took the only course open to him. 'Continuing, Mr Thomas said :■ —

“I wish to make it clear to my persona! friends that I intended to accept the findings of the tribunal without challenge, whatever they might he, not because a judicial liodv is infallible, hut because I believe that time is no more impartial tribunal than a British judicial tribunal, and I felt that of this tribunal.

Continuing, Mr. Thomas said

“llcvevor ki'- illy 1 have felt its report, I r.ntf entitled to say. regardless of 4lie report, that T never consciously gave a Budget secret away. I repeat that regardless of flic tribunal’s findings “To attempt to deal with some of my private affairs would ho as painful to mo as unfair to the House. My vices, if they are vices, always have been open and never disguised even from my own family.” Mr Thomas’ face became more and more flushed and his voice less toady as ho proceeded. “I intend to resign from the House immediately. T thank all parties for their kindness, and often generosity, over a period oi 27 years. 1 can only hope during that long period T have made some contribution to what today is almost tlio bulwark of democratic government in the world.

“T would only say that no word of this debate can wound mo more than I feel wounded. Nothing, nothing can ever lie said that can humiliate me more than T have been humiliated, hut I at least can go to one who has shared all my trials and troubles, and who still believes in me in. this darkest hour or my life.” Air Thomas said he hau no strength left to fight a by-election. Mr Thomas spoke for six minutes, and ended in tears. He sat down amid a few sympathetic cheers, and then rose and walked dejectedly from the House in dead silence.

“A CRAVE INJUSTICE” SIR A. BUTT’S SPEECH. HAVE BEEN CONDEMNED FOR REST OF LIFE. NO METHOD OF APPEAL. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright* LONDON, June 11. Sir Alfred Butt, his voice hardly audible..when he rose in the .House ol Commons to make his statement with reference to the report, said that this ivas the most painful occasion on which he had addressed the House. It was liis last address to this Parliament. “I say emphatically that no member of tho Cabinet Inis ever, consciously or unconsciously, ’disclosed to me any confidential information,” he declared. “When .1 heard the appalling decision of tho tribunal, conscious as I was of a grave injustice done to me, I thought I should have an absolute right, of trial in the courts, where I should have l.ad full notice of the charge against me, and where only propcrly-admissihle evidence could bo given. Then I heard there was not to be any prosecution, and that my caso would not bo heard.

“I have been condemned, and apparently must suffer for the rest of my life, from findings against which thero is no appeal and which were Based on evidence which apparently does not justify a trial. There is no method open to, me by which I can bring tho issue before a jury. “With the greatest respect, I cannot conceivo that the combined ingenuity of .the Lord Chancellor, the Homo Secretary, and the AttorneyGeneral could not devise, a method to bring tlfo‘vital issue to tho court, but as they have not devised a method, how can I. ask the House to acquit mo If-any good had to come from this most miserable moment of my life, I hope my position may do something to prevent anybody else being subject to this humiliation.

“I feel from tho bottom of my heart that I am tho victim of a grave injustice. I hope, and pray, that sonic means may still ho available to enable mo to prove my integrity,. I propose to apply immediately for the Cliiltern Hundreds'.

“Until to-day, I had- no intention of resigning, but having regard to the action of Mr Thomas, I feel it would be impossible ior me to take up a different position.’.'

Sir Alfred Butt rose and left his seat and Bowed to Mr Speaker as he left tho,House.;

EXPIATION IN FULL. ! PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH. BOTH JYIR THOMAS AND SIR A. BUTT FAY PENALTY. COMMONS CLOSED TO THEM. STIGMA WILL REMAIN FOR ALL TIME. TRIBUTE TO EX-MINISTER’S PUBLIC CAREER. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 11. Tlio debate was opened by the Prime Minister, Air Stanley Baldwin, who emphasised the difference between tho judicial tribunal which Parliament constituted for the purpose of tho inquiry into tho Budget disclosures and an ordinary court of law. Tie said that a grave injustice would l.a dono to two members of the House affected by the report if the distinction were overlooked, and they were regarded as having been found guilty of a criminal act.

It was his responsible, though distasteful, task as tho leader of the House to move that the report of the tribunal ho accepted. He said that Mr Thomas, whose long public career was well-known, and whose loyal cooperation in the Government, of which Air Baldwin was the head would be gratefully acknowledged, had recognised that the House was hound to accept the findings of the tribunal, regarding which Air Baldwin declared they all acknowledged the sense of duty under which the tribunal undertook its task and the promptness and thoroughness with which it discharged it.

In resigning from Parliament, while maintaining, as ho hail a perfect right to do. that lie was conscious of no offence, Air Thomas had consulted his own dignity and tlio dignity of the House and had taken a course which deserved, and would receive the full sympathy of the House. AJr Baldwin said that Sir Alfred Butt had also taken the proper course ami expiation in full had been made by both members. They had left the House for the last time, and it was closed to them. The careless and unthinking cruelty of modern publicity had been theirs For weeks. They were paying tho penalty in full. “There is no appeal from the findings, and whatever stigma there is fioin the report remains for all time,” said Mr Baldwin. “Let us hope, with al’ our hearts that wo will never participate in so painful a scene again.” In conclusion, Air Baldwin said ho would change the motion to read that the .House accept the report.

LABOR LEADER WILL NOT MOVE AMENDMENT. ENDING TO DISTINGUISHED CAREER REGRETTED. ATTACK ON “GAMBLERS IN THE CITY.T” The loader of the Labor Party, Major C. It. Attlee, and Sir Archibald Sinclair, speaking for the Liberals. associated themselves with the Prime Minister’s expression of thanks to Sir Samuel Porter and his colleagues on the judicial tribunal. Major Attlee indicated “that he would not now move the amendment: “That in view of the definite findings of the. tribunal and the disclosures of "ambling practices in the City of London, this House calls on the Government to take appropriate action/’ as had been previously decided upon by the Labor Party members of Ihe House. Major Attlee said that two members of the House had been found by tho tribunal to have acted in a manner inconsistent with the positions ■they held in public life. It was clear that they had a duty to vindicate the honour of tho House. They were proud of tho probity of the publicservants, and rightly exacted from them a very high standard, and they could not accept a. lower one from members of the House, or those who hold high positions in the Government, but they all deeply regretted that tho long and distinguished career of Mr Thomas should have had such an ending. Major Attleo attacked what he referred to as “the. corrupt influences emanating from gamblers in the City,” and said it was high time for a clean-up of the City superstructure. Mcro gambling, he said, had been built up upon legitimate institutions. The Opposition urged an inquiry into it. DEPLORABLE INCIDENT, BUT HAPPILY BABE. Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal leader, agreed that the incidents disclosed' in tho tribunal’s report were deplorable, but happily they were of a kind rare in British public life. That that was so was not due to fortuitous circumstances, but to the jealousy with which they guarded the probity of public life, and tho quickness with which they acted whenever it was impugned. That attitude must be maintained, for it was the greatest and only safeguard against chronic scandals and festering corruption from which other countries had found it difficult lo purify their public life.

INDEPENDENT LA BO BITE’ S SYMPATHY.

Mr J. Maxfon, the Independent Labor member for Bridgeton, said he had known Mr Thomas for almost .‘3O years and had been associated with him for many years in the work of tiie Labor Party. 1 “At no thue during that period did I, or those associated with mo, approve of liis methods of general political conduct,” continued Mr Maxton. Nevertheless, tliey i regretted that his political career should end in this way.

“YOU DIRTY SWINE.”

CONSERVATIVE RESENTS • INSINUATIONS'. REDS’ BITTERNESS AT NO CRIMINAL ACTION. Mr W. Gallacher, tho Communist member for Fife, said that Mr Thomas talked about hi.s vices, if they were vices, but the Government had encouraged him in them. They knew that the more he got into society, the more he was their man. (Laughter.) Mr Thomas did nob suddenly develop corruption. Ho was brought into contact with the captains of industry and the politicians representing them. They patted him on the back.- If Mr Thomas was the “Artful Dodger” in tho Labor movement, Mr Ramsay MacDonald was the “Fagin.” Proceeding to criticise the ruling ol the Attorney-General, Sir Donald Somervell, that ro action would be taken, Mr Gallacher said that it created a. suspicion that there were reasons why there should he no prosecutions and that they were afraid that other things would come out. A man had been hanged on less circumstantial evidence than was available in this case. ‘ “I understand that you are not prosecuting because that would exposo and end the rule of the National Government which was founded on corruption and a betrayal of the people,” declared Mr Gallacher.

The Conservative member for Croydon North, Colonel G. K. M. Mason, hero shouted: “ You dirty swine.” Labor members demanded a withdrawal and Colonel Mason rose and said: “I apologise for using such an mi-pari iament ary word. ’ ’ Labor members not being satisfield, Colonel Mason rose again and formally withdrew the expression. Tho Attorney-Genera! said he was satisfied there was no evidence to justify proceedings of perjury against any of the witnesses at the tribunal. As regards the Official Secrets Act, ho was satisfied that evil intent was a necessary ingredient of an offence. WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. CHANCELLOR’S ASSURANCE. Tho Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Neville Chamberlain, said thatgambling could not be stopped by legislation. He had suggested to Lloyd’s, a sort of close season from the. end of the financial year on March fil until the Budget was announced in tho House of Commons, during which time no Budget risk would he accepted. Lloyd’s had assented to this. What had happened would not happen again. Meantime Lloyd’s had appealed to the underwriting agents not to accept insurance contingency risks without assuring themselves that the insured had legitimate interests to be covered. LABOR AMENDMENT LOST. The House was then divided on the Labor amendment which was moved by Mr T. Johnson, tho Labor member for Stirlng Vest, after Major Attlee’s statement that he personally was r.ot moving the amendment, with the result that it was rejected by 227 to 135 votes. The motion to accept the report was then agreed to without a division.

‘ NOT THE END OF JI.M THOMAS.” COMFORT IN FAMILY. WIFE AND DAUGHTER LISTEN TO SPEECH. ar.l'.A. by Elcc. Tel. Oooyr'giit). LONDON, June 11. “If you ask me is ibis the end ot Jim Thomas? the answer is definitely no.” Mr. J. 11. Thomas told a lepresentative of the' Daily mail on h:s- arrival at Furring. Mr. Thomas added: “I. am in the unfortunate position where I have no right of appeal. 1 shall settle down here with, my family. Letters or goodwill are coming in daily from ad parts of the country.” • When, during IPs speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Thomas said: “I have been humiliated, but T at least can go to one who has shared all my trials and troubles, ami who still believes in me in this darkest hour of my life,” he looked up to the Speaker’s gallery whore his wile and daughter were sitting.

TWO BY-ELECTIONS. MR. THOMAS HELD DERBY SEAT FOB 26 YEARS. .'.British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 11. The resignations of Mr, J. H. Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt from ilia Houso of Commons will necessitate by-elections in the Derby division, for which Mr. Thomas has sat continuously since 1910, having been returned at the last two general elections as a National-Labour member, and in the Baiham and Tooting division, which has returned Sir Alfred Butt as a Conservative member since 1922. PRESS SYMPATHETIC WITH MR. THOMAS: TRIBUTE TO COMMONS’ HUMANNESS. WOUND NOT EXACERBATED AFTER EXPIATION. COUNTRY WILL ACCEPT EXMINISTER’S DISCLAIM ER. fU.I* A. by Elec. Tot (Received June 12, 8.U5 p’.m.). LONDON, Juno 11. Tho Press throughout the country deals sympathetically with Mr. Thomas. It believes that the ,inquiry wi;l have a good result and purs a tribute to the dignity and humanness. of members ■of the Commons in a painful duty. v ; ’ Tho Times says:—

“The House of Commons is the least vindictive assembly in the

5 .2 world. It requires expiation when the standards of public conduct are violated, but when expiation is made, it tolerates no attempt to exacerbate tho wound. Mr. Thomas repeated his denial that lie consciously betrayed e. Budget secret. The Tlouso was free to accept, and did accept, tho disclaimer, since the tribunal refrained from ain such imputation, and tho country will be satisfied with the word ot so well known and so trusted a public servant. On the other hand, Mr. Thomas, in his loyalty to the House and its tribunal, accepted Ih e findings which, the Homo accepted. Mr. Thomas remains therefore under the imputation of betraying a. Budget secret even inadvertently, and Parliamentary code requires immolation even for so venial a transgression. Mr. Thomas by resigning his seat, gives adhesion to that code.” CLEANING-UP WANTED IN CITY. The Daily Herald commends the Labour Party for its efforts to turn the situation to public,'advantage. It. ys whcr»r the cleaning is wanted is the city. The Manchester Guardian says:— ‘‘The Public will feel the greatest sympathy for Mr. Thomas, but to most people the really disturbing tiling is the revelation of the length to which the gambling spirit will go, and the city’s facilities for it.” SIR A BUTT TO RESIGN. fU.P.A. by Elec. Tei. O-uy right}. (Received June 13, 12.45 a.in.). LONDON, Juno 12. Sir Alfred Butt has sent a letter to the local Conservative Association intimating that he is resigning from the House of Commons.