"NO FOUNDATION FOR THE CHARGES."

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1913, Page 5

"NO FOUNDATION FOR THE CHARGES."

MINORITY'S CENSURE REPORT

(Received June 15, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 14. The report of the Marconi Inquiry ■. Committee -finds that Ministers acted in the sincere belief.that nothing in their action conflicted with their duty to the Crown. There is no foundation for the charges, which appearto have originated with the Stock Exchange. There is no evidence to support the allegation that any Minister exercised influence in beiialt ■of Marconi, in securing the contract, or that any Minister advantaged himself by knowledge acquired' officially. The report condemns the publication of unfounded charges against Mr Lloyd George, Sir. Rufus Isaacs, fnd Mr Samuel None of Sir Rufus Isaacs's or Viscount Elibank s purchases were in any way corrupt. Lord Robert Cecil's report declares that Ministers wene not. influenced in iihe discharge of their duties,, nor had they in any way utilised their official knowledge for investment m speculation but that Sir Rufus Isaac acted > with grave impropriety iin making Advantageous P™* astr UP™nd that unavailable to the public, and that Shad placed himself unwittingly >m a position where his private mtei«te ■Viscount Elibank were open to .simfar, censure. The wireless agreement was an essential factor to tne ■whole structure of Marconi's finance The American shares were at mr (Godfrey Isaacs's disposal,- as agent of the English Company. Godfreys Isev to Sir Rufus might have been • dueto fraternal affection, but in view of the rumors of a Parliamentary ; attack on the- contract an impression was created that it was P^%,^ ■■ to less creditable motives. lheie -was clearly a speculative, element in Ministers' transactions. Ministers reticence occasioned the -persistent VVSS- TISeS' Spicer's original report -considered that it would I^™,^ 'fetter if 'Sir Rufus; Isaacs had not .acquired the American shares, be-SS^he-relationship between the lEnglish and American companies was .calculated to create misconception. 'The report -added, that if-Ministers l,ad furnished the'facts subsequently Sosed in the Matin aot,on much .misunderstanding' would have been iaverted.