BUDGET LEAKAGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 11 June 1936, Page 7

BUDGET LEAKAGE

NO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DECISION REASONS SET OUT (United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11th June, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, 10th June. The Attorney-General (Sir Donald Bradley Somervell) announced he is not instituting criminal proceedings in respect to Budget leakages. The law required unauthorised communications to be deliberate, and if there was any doubt as to whether a disclosure was deliberate or inadvertent the accused was entitled to acquittal. Moreover, a fundamental principle of criminal law is that a jury act only on evidence presented at a 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 had 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 be made the basis of a subsequent criminal charge. Mr Stanley Baldwin (the Prime Minister) indicated that Mr J. H. Thomas and Sir Alfred Butt.would make a statement to-morrow. The “Evening News” understands that Mr Thomas met Mr'Aiton, chairman of the Derby Conservatives, and intimated he intended to resign. Mr Aiton advised against such a step. Mr Thomas is believed to have discussed the statement he intends to make in the House of Commons torn orrow with friends. It will be brief and will reaffirm that he did not disclose Budget secrets and that his conscience is clear. RESIGNATION EXPECTED HON. J. H. THOMAS AFTER STATEMENT IN COMMONS (Received 11th June, 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, 10th June. The “Daily Herald’s” political correspondent says that the Hon. J. H. Thomas visited the House of Commons. but did not appear in the chamber. He was closeted for fifteen minutes with the TTon. Ramsay MacDonald, who urged that the resignation of his seat was the only proper course. The “Daily Mail’s” political correspondent says that as a result of his talk with the Hon. ■ Ramsay MacDonald, the Hon. ,J. H. Thomas has decided to resign his seat. Mr Thomas will make a personal statement on Thursday, then announce his resignation. The Executive qf Labour members in the House of Commons decided to question the Government regarding the alleged leakage respecting Newfoundland bonds. It is understood that the Government has already made inquiries. The Hon. Neville Chamberlain (Chancellor of the Exchequer) may make a statement during Thursday’s debate. : ; ; i i *f *r ' ,> ■ REPRIMANDED BY LLOYD’S COMMITTEE ■)- ■ v (Received 11th June, 12.55 p.m.) LONDON, 10th June. It is understood that Lloyd’s Committee strongly reprimanded several participants in Budget insurances. No further action is proposed. Allegations appeared in the American press, notably the news magazine “Time” to the effect that the Budget charges were not the only leakages of confidential official information in the last few years. “Time” alleged similar leakages occurred over the British Government’s guarantee of Newfoundland bonds in 1933, when the Hon. J. H. Thomas was Secretary of State for the Dominions.