BUDGET LEAKAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 163, 11 June 1936, Page 7

BUDGET LEAKAGE

NO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS. WOULD BE IMPRACTICABLE. MR THOMAS’S POSITION. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received June 11, 9.55 a.m. LONDON, June 10. The Attorney-General has announced that he is not instituting criminal proceedings in respect to the Budget leakages. The law requires that unauthorised communications bo deliberate. If there is any doubt as to whether a disclosure was deliberate or inadvertent the accused is entitled to acquittal.

Moreover, a fundamental principle of criminal law is that the jury must act only on evidence presented at the trial. It would be impossible to obtain a jury not familiar with the findings of the tribunal, and much of the evidence which the tribunal has considered. It would be foreign to British methods if information resulting from the exercise of wide powers of compulsory interrogation such as the tribunal had should he made the basis of a subsequent criminal charge. Mr Stanley Baldwin indicated that Mr J. H. Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt would make n statement to-morrow.

Tlio Evening News understands that Mr Thomas met the chairman of the Derby Conservatives and intimated that he intended to resign. He was advised against such a step. Mr Thomas is believed to have discussed the statement he intends to make in the House to-morrow with friends. It will be brief and will reaffirm that ho did ont disclose Budget secrets and that his conscience is clear.

PROCEDURE IN HOUSE. MOTION AND ADDENDUM. (British Official Wireless.) Received June 11, 11.32 a.m. RUGBY, June 10. After the Attorney-General had announced in the House of Commons that there would be no prosecution in connection with the Budget leakage, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would table a formal motion for to-morrow that the tribunal’s report “be now considered,” which would not prejudice the course of the discussion by Opposition members. Opposition members suggested that the Government and tlie Prime Minister, as the Leader of the House in particular, had a responsibility to make recommendations arising out of the report, but Mr Baldwin refused to anticipate the course of the debate. He informed the House that Mr Thomas and Sir Allred Butt had expressed the intention of being in their places to make personal statements at the end of the questions to-morrow. The statements are expected to be brief, and the two members will then withdraw from the House. Labour members will move an addendum to the Government motion “that, in view of the definite findings of the tribunal and tlie disclosures of gambling practices in the City of London, this House calls on the Government to take appropriate action.” The Derby Election Committee passed a resolution urging Mr Thomas to continue his representation. “It desires to express to Mr Thomas full and complete confidence. The committee _is mindful of his 26 years’ devoted service to Derby and assures him of its continued loyal support.” MR THOMAS DECIDES. RESIGNING HIS SEAT. LONDON, June 10. The Daily Herald’s political correspondent says that Mr J. H. Thomas visited the House of Commons but did not appear in tlie Chamber. He was closeted for 15 minutes with Mr Ramsay MacDonald, who urged that the resignation of liis seat was the only proper course. The Daily Mail’s political correspondent says that as a result of his talk with Mr MacDonald, Mr Thomas has decided to resign his seat. Mr Thomas will make a personal statement on Thursday and will then announce his resignation. The executive of Labour members of the House of Commons decided to question the Government regarding the alleged leakage respecting Newfoundland bonds. It is understood that the Government lias already made inquiries, and that Mr Neville Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer) may make a statement during Thursday’s debate.