Lord Ponsonby Espouses Cause Of Duke Of Bedford

Northern Advocate, 19 November 1941, Page 5

Lord Ponsonby Espouses Cause Of Duke Of Bedford

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 18. Lord Ponsonby (Labour Peer) declared in the House of Lords that he was very sure he was under observation by the Home Secretary (Mr. Herbert Morrison). He said Mr. Morrison’s remarks last month that he was “interested” in the activities of the Duke of Bedford, though he had not detained him, was irrevelant and that there were other members in the House of Lords who might be included in Mr. Morrison’s remarks. “I ask for some protection against this method of insinuation and attack,” he said. Likened to Gestapo “Mr. Morrison seems intent on putting the finishing touches to his Gestapo and getting it more into the Himmler model, but I think there is sufficient opinion in Britain to show a great dislike for such methods. “Mr. Morrison has completely disregarded his advisory committee’s recommendations in about 100 cases. "This absolutely unfettered discretion is a danger, and the very fact that people can be removed by a nod from Mr. Morrison is a danger that should be dealt with before it goes further.” Mountains Out of Molehills The Lord Chancellor (Viscount Simon), replying, said: “Lord Ponsonby was in error when he said Mr. Morrison’s observations were wholly irrelevant. “The Duke of Bedford had gone to pains to circulate his opinions in quarters where they might be received. I regard those opinions as utterly irresponsible and completely pestilential but the Duke of Bedford is fortunate that he is a British subject. “I hope the House will agree that it is just possible to make a little too much of these things in time of war and that we had better get on with the work.”