FULL STATEMENT MADE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 24 November 1943, Page 2

FULL STATEMENT MADE

HOME SECRETARY’S EXPLANATION (Rec. 9.45 a m.) London, Nov. 23. In a full statement in the House of Commons on the release of Sir Oswald Mosley, the Home Secretary, Mr Herbert Morrison, made it clear that the decision was taken after consideration of two questions—the state of Mosley’s health and the possible harm to national security which«>the release might cause. The health question, Mr Morrison revealed, was discussed between the Medical Commissioner for Prisons, two prison doctors and Lord Dawson of Penn and Dr Geoffrey Evans. “The opinion of these five doctors was unanimous that if the patient remained under conditions inseparable from detention there would be substantial risk of thrombo-phelditis, from which he is suffering extending to that producing permanent damage to health and even danger to life.” The Home Secretary continued: “On receipt of this authoritative advice I had to consider first whether I ought to take the responsibility of detaining Mosley. On this point I can only say while consideration of national security must come first I was not prepared, subject to this consideration, to let anyone die in detention unnecessarily. The alternative was to consider whether there should be substituted for detention some system of control approximating to house arrest. I have authorised the release in the belief that in the present circumstances adequate control can be maintained by the restrictions I have imposed.” Mr Morrison then enumerated the restrictions. Mosley is to reside rt a specified house in the country and is prohibited travelling more than seven miles He is to report in person to the police monthly. He is not to associate or directly or indirectly communicate with any person who has been a member of the British Union other than members of his family or his wife s family. He is not to associate directly or indirectly communicate with any other person for the purpose of promoting or assisting in the promotion of political activities. He is not to publish or cause or permit to be published any article in a newspaper, newsletter, periodical, pamphlet leaflet, poster or circular. He is not to make any public speech or give an interview to a journalist or other person for the purpose of publication