FALL OF THOMAS

Grey River Argus, 13 June 1936, Page 7

FALL OF THOMAS

SPEECH IN COMMONS Debate on Report OF BUDGET “LEAKAGE” TRIBUNAL. (Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, June 11. Crowds witnessed Mr. Thomas’s arrival at the Comomns, which debated to-day the report of the Tribunal on the disclosure of iuformataou of the Budget before its delivery in Parliament. The debate on the Tribunal report was opened by the Prime Minister, who emphasised the difference between the judicial tribunal which Parliament constituted for the purpose of inquiry into the Budget disclosures, and an ordnary court of law, since he said a grave injustice would be done to the two members 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 leader of the House, to move that the report of the Tribunal be accepted. lie said that Mr. Thomas, whose long public career was ■well known, and whose loyal co-oper-ation in tlie Government of which the speaker was now head he gratefully acknowledged, had recognised that the House was bound to accept the findings of ihe Tribunal, regarding which Mr, Baldwin declared they all acknowledged the sense of duty under which i' undertook its task, ami the promptness and thoroughness with which it undertook its task-, and the prompt ness and thoroughness with ‘which it discharged it. In resigning from Parliament, while maintaining, as he was conscious of no offence, Mr. Thomas consulted his own dignity and the dignity of the House, and had taken a course which deserved and would receive the full sympathy of the House.

Sir A. Sincliair (Liberal) associated him-' ’ with the Prime Minister’s expt’" "ii of thanks to Mr. Justice Porte. and his colleagues on the judi- > i: I I ril'iinal.

'Mr. Attlee (Labour Loader) said thai two members of the House had been found by the tribunal to have acted in a manner inconsistent with the positions they held in public life.

11 was a clear duty Io vindicate the honour of the House. Thev were proud of I he probity of public servants ami 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 Air. Thomas’s long ami distinguished career should have had such an ending. Sir A. Sinclair agreed that the incidents disclosed in the 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 the jealousy with which they guarded the nrobity of public life and the quickness with which I hey acted whenever it was impugned. That altitude must be maintained, for it was the '■reatest and only safeguard against 'he chronic scandals and festering corruption, from ■which other countries had found it difficult to purify their public life. THOMAS DENIES DISCLOSURES. Air. Thomas rose amid a tense silence. He said that no member ever addressed the House under such painful circumstances. and hoped that never again would a member be similarly placed. Referring to his resignation from the Alinistry, he said that he felt sure the House, would agree, that he took the only course open. “I wished Io make it clear to personal friends that 1 intended Io accept the findings of the Tribunal without challenge, whatever they might be. not because a judicial body is infallible, but because' I believe there is no more impartial tribunal than a British judicial tribunal, and I felt that of this tribunal, however keenly 1 felt its report. lam entitled to say, regardless of the. report, that T never consciously gave a Budget secret away. 1 repeat that, regardless of the tribunal's findings. To attempt to deal with some oi' my private affairs would be as painful to me as it would be unfair to the House. Aly vices, if they are vices, have always been open,, and never disguised, even from my own family. ’ ’

Mr. Thomas’s face became more and more flushed and his voice less stcadv, as Im proceeded. “I intend to resign from the House immediately. T thank all parties for their kindness, and often generosity, over a period of 27 years. I can only hope that, during that long period. I have made some contribution to what to<lay is almost thc only bulwark of democratic government in the world 1' would only say that no word of this debate can wound nm more than I feel wounded. Nothing can ever be said that can humiliate me more than | have been humilatcd, but at least I go to one who has shared all my trials and troubles, and who still believes in me. in this darkest hour of my life.’’ Air. Thomas said that he had no strength left to fight a by-election. He spoke for six minutes and ended almost in tears.

He sat down amid a few sympathetic cheers, then arose and walked dejectedly from the House, in dead silence. BUTT ALSO TO RESIGN. Sir Alfred Butt, his voice hardly audible, said that this was a most painful occasion on which to address the House. It was his last address in this Parliament. "I say emphatically that no member of the Cabinet has ever consciously or unconsciously disclosed to me any confidential information.. When I heard the appalling decision of thc Tribunal, conscious as I was of the grave injustice done me, I thought I should have the absolute right of trial in the Courts, where I should have had full notice of the charge against me, and where only properly-admissible would be given. Then I heard

there would not be a prosecution an® my ease would not be heard. I have been condemned, and apparently must suffer for the rest of my life, from findings against which no appeal is based, on evidence which apparently ■loes not justify a trial. There is no method open io me by which I can bring the issue before a jury. With the greatest, respect, I cannot co*-’

ceive that the combined ingenuity of the Lord Chancellor, the Home Secretary, and the Attorney-General could not devise a. method to bring the vital issue to the Court, but. as they have mH ili”, isnd a method, how can 1 ask the House to acquit me? If any good had Io come from this most miserable moment of my life, I hope that my position may lie something to prevent anybody else being a subject to this humiliation. I feel from the bottom of my heart, that I am a victim of grave injustice. I hope and pray th'at some means will still be available to enable me to prove my integrity. I propose to apply immediately for the Chiliern Hundreds. Until to-day. I had no intention of resigning. but having regard to Mr. Thomas's action, I feel that it would be impossible for me to take up a different position.’ ’ Sir Alfred Butt rose and left liiseat. lie hoWed to the Speaker, a« he left the House. TIME FOR A “CLEAN UP” Mr. Baldwin said: Sir A. Butt has also taken the proper course. Expiation in full has 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 has been theirs fur weeks. They are paying the penalty in full. There is no appeal from the findings and whatever stigma there is from the report remains for all time. Let us hope with all our hearts, we will never participate in so painful a scone again. In conclusion, he said. he would change the motion to read that the House accepted the report. CORRUPT INFLUENCES Air. Attlee indicated that he would not now move the Labour amendment. Air. Attlee attacked the “corrupt influences emanating from gamblers in the city,” and said it was high time there was a elean-up in the city. A superstructure of mere gambling had been built up upon legitimate institutions. The Opposition urged an inquiry into it. Air. Alaxton said lie had known Air. Thomas for almost thirty years, and had been associated with him for many years in the work of the Labour Party. “At no time during that period did I or those associated with me, approve, of his methods and general political conduct.” Nevertheless, they regretted his political career was to end in this way. “BY LITTLE AND LITTLE” Air. Gallacher said that Air. Thomas talked about his 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). Mi. Thomas did not suddenly develop corruption. lie was Brought into contact with captains of industry and politicians representing them. They patted him on the back. If Air. Thomas was the artful dodger in the Labour movement, Air. Ramsay MacDonald was the Fagin. HITTING THE NAIL.

Proceeding to criticise Sir I’. Somerville’s (Attorney General) ruling, Air. Gallacher said, it created a. suspicion that the reasons why there were no prosecutions were they were afraid o’her things might come out. Alon had been hanged on less cireumstan’ial evidence than was available in this case. “I understand you are not prosecuting because it would expose and end the rule of the National Government, which was founded on corruption and betrayal of the people. A Conservative, Colonel Mason, here shouted. “You dirty swine.” Labour members demanded a withdrawal. Colonel Alason rose and said: “I apologise for using such an unparliamentary word.”

The Labour members not being sat Col. Alason rose again and for mally withdrew the expression.

Sir D. Somerville said he was satisfied there was no evidence to justify proceedings for perjury against any witness at the Tribunal. As regards the Official Secrets Act. he was satisfied that evil intent was a necessary ingredient of an offence.' CLOSING THE STABLE DOOR. Air. Neville Chamberlain said that gambling could not be stopped by legislation. He had suggested to Lloyds a Kort of close season from the cud of the financial year Alareh 31 until the Budget, was announced in the Commons, during which time no Budget risk should be, accepted. Lloyd’s had assented, thus what had happened would not happen again. Aleantime. 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. The House then divided on the amendment moved by Air. Johnston after Air. Attlee’s statement that he personally was not moving an amendment, with the result that it was rejected by 227 to 135 votes, after -which the motion to accept (he report was agreed to without a. division. Air. Baldwin, answering Air. Thur tie. attached no credence to the al legation that a rise in Newfoundland stocks, preceding the issue of the report of the Commission examining the island’s finances, indicated a leakage of official information.

If you ask me if this is the end of Jim Thomas, I answer definitely no. Air. Thomas told the "Mail’s” representative on arrival at Ferring. Air; Thomas added: I am in the unfort tinate position where there is no right, of appeal. I shall settle down here with my family. Letters of goodwill are coming daily from all parts of the country. Let Down Light ? PRESS COMMENTS. CITY OP LONDON CROOKEDNESS CITED. (■Received June 12, 10 p.m.) LONDON. June 12. The press throughout the country deals symmitheticahy wi'h Mr J. TL Thomas. The papers says They bel’eve •’iiv inquiry will have good result They pav a tribute to the digirty and humaneness of the House of Commens i’n a painful duty. The "Times” says: The House of Commons is 'he last v’nclcfive assembly in the world. It requires oxwatm'n when standards of public conduct inTe violated, but when exnintibn is made-, it tolerates no attempt to excerbalo ‘lie wound. Air Thomas'rcpealted his. denial that he «onsci»uslv betrayed a Budget secret.

The llou se was free to accept, and ( |j,l ..c.-i'pf, h's d : se,lamer, since tho Trlmim’ refrained from any such ini' nut a Gon; and the country will be sat Micd with the word of so well-known - t nd trusted a public servant. On the other hand. Air Thomas, in loyal-y to the Tl ouse and to its Tribunal accepted the findings, which the House al',, a.ccpted. Air Thomas remains, therefore. under the imputation of betraving a Bmket score , cye n madver'l'enUv ami Ihe Parliamentary code requires his 'mmolation. even for so venial a transgression. Air Thomas, be resigning his seat, gives adhesion to The'“Daily Herald’’ commends the Labour Party for its eft'ort to turn the situation to 'the public advantag . 11 savs- “ Where a cleaning is Wanted is’in the C’tv of London!’’ The “Manchester Guardian’’ savs: The pub'ie will feel the greatest r vs tile’revelation of the length to vOn'ch the gambling H’’?-/J, 1 B°’ am'l of the City of Londons faciati - for itTHE BY-ELECTIONS. RUGBY, June 11. The resignations of Air. Thomas and S’r -Alfred Butt will necessitate. Selections in the Derby Division for which Air, Thomas has sat eontmu ouslv Alice 1910, having been retuin1 the lust two General Elections Labour member; and I , [ho Balham and Tooting Division, which returned Sir Alfred BuH as a Conservative member sinep I-----|n ( . liniiw poii with the statement ot Mr Alfred Butt, that he intends to appjv for the Chiltem Hundreds, it may , c explained that this is the name of d'mriet of th,. Clrltern Hills, where offenders used to hide, to escape capmr“ This pave rise to the appointment of a Crown official, who was callthe steward of the Chiltern Hun(|reds The duties of this office long since’ceased to bn of meaning, and, by •i pleasant fiction, when a member, ot ■he House of Commons cannot resign j,i< without diaquartieation by accepting a ulaw of profit under tho Crown, he accepts the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, which is commonlv held to const’tute such a place, ami this is tantamount to resignation.

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