NAME OF “MR. A.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 December 1924, Page 5

NAME OF “MR. A.”

HIS IDENTITY KNOWN. NEWSPAPERS PROTEST. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT LONDON, Nov. 30. The newspapers resent the concealment of the potentate’s name. They declare the suppression to be - more harmful than publication, and point out that the name of King Edward, then Prince of "Wales, was not suppressed for reasons of State in the Tranbycroft baccarat case. The Star says that King Edward gave evidence in open court, and no attempt was made to suppress names or facts. ,It was a precedent which might, have advantageously been followed in, the present case. The criminal proceedings against Hobbs emphasises the futility of melodramatic precautions for the concealment of the name of “Mister A,” which was openly published in Europe and America. Every second person in Britain knows the real name. Gilbert Franlcau, in an article in the Weekly Despatch, says: “I venture to say that the potentate’s identity is known to everybody who is anybody, and at least 100,000 in the West . End alone who are nobody. The only newspapers who respected the judge’s request not to publish the name were British. Continental and American editors had no such scruples, therefore the name which was supposed to lie secret has been whispered, not only throughout the white races, but in every bazaar in the Near and Far East. It is known in Lahore, Calcutta, Madras. Bangalore, Alexandria, Turkestan and every province of China. LONDON, Dee. 1. The Daily Chronicle states that the police are insistent, in view of the disclosures in the bank case, that strong measures are essential to vindicate British justice, but they are faced with the difficultv that the prosecution of Hobbs and the aide-de-camp., may necessitate the disclosure of Mr. A?s identity. The police, however, consider that, as the name has been published in foreign newspapers, no purpose can be served by .further secrecy. , It is unknown if’ the Indian Office will agree.