EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 16 June 1913, Page 5

EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION.

MORE DETAILS OF THE REPORTS

LONDON, June 14. The report finds that Ministers acted in the sincere belief that nothing in their action conflicted with their duty to the Crown. There was no foundation to the charges- which appear to have originated on .the Stock" Exchange, r.here .was no evidence to support, the allegation that any Minister . exercised influence, on behalf of Marconi securing the contract, or that; any Minister advantaged himself by knowledge acquired officially. The report condemns the publication of unfounded charges i againsti Mr Lloyd George, Sir. Rufus | Isaacs, and Mr H. Sanuel. None of Sir Rufus Isaacs' or Lord Murray of Elibank's purchases were in any way ! corrupt. Lord Cecil's report declares that Ministers were not influenced in the discharge of their duties, nor did they utilise official knowledge for investment or speculation;- but Sir Rufus Tsaacs acted with grave impropriety in making advantageous purchases upon advice unavailable to the public, and had placed himself unwittingly in a position where his private interest might conflict with his public duty. Mr Lloyd George and Lord Murray of Elibank were also open to similar censure. The wireless agreement was an essential factor of the whole structure of Marconi's finance. American shares were at Godfrey Tssacs' disposal as a<?ent for an English company. His offer to Sir Rufus might be due to fraternal affection, but in view of rumors of a Parliamentary attack on the contract the impression was created that it was partly due to less creditable motives. There was clearly a speculative element to Ministers' transactions. The Ministers' reticence in the face of persistent press rumors was deplorable.

Sir A. Spicer's, original report considered that it would have been better if Sir Rufus Isaacs had not acquired American chares, because the relationship^ of the English and American companies was calculated to create misconception. It added that if the Ministers had furnishpd the facts subsequently disclosed much misunderstanding would have been averted.