ATTACK RESENTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21982, 13 December 1934, Page 13

ATTACK RESENTED

PRESS AND PEER LORD ROTHERMERE ACCUSED ALLEGED ABUSE OF POWER By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright LONDON, Dec. U Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Mottistone. formerly MajorGeneral J. E. B. Seelv,- drew attention to the debate on defence on November 14, and complained that newspapers controlled by Viscount Rothermere, when commenting upon it, accused him of "distortion of facts -regarding air strength." Lord Mottistone continued: "I am here to say that when a man becomes a member of this House he should conform to the principle applying to the House of Commons—that no member should venomously attack another on a matter of high public importance, thus discrediting not only the man himself but also Parliament. I invited Lord Rothermere to attend to-day and received from him a telegram which states: " 'lf any aspersions had been cast upon you 'by the newspapers of which I am director, I should have been the first to repudiate them. Nobody has imagined for a moment that you intentionally misled the House of Lords. Although I exercise general political ■ control of the Daily Mail, I was not acquainted 'with the statements about your speech before their publication. I have gone into the matter carefully and would have preferred your statements to be described as incautious instead of misleading.' " " A Baffling Telegram " Lord Mottistone said that Lord Rothermere had added that he would be on the Continent to-day, but if Lord Mottistone cared to raise the general question of armaments in the House of Lords again later, he would attend and speak. Lord Mottistone added that this was a baffling telegram. It was a friendly message from one man to another. He had not sought a personal quarrel with Lord Rothermere, but the big issue he was raising was Lord Rothermere's responsibility to the House. If he, Lord Mottistone, had really made a grossly inaccurate statement, or had distorted the truth —which was a synonym for lying—it would be wrong for Lord Rothermere to attack him except on the floor of the. House. "But if Lord Rothermere is utterly, entirely and fantastically wrong," proceeded Lord Mottistone, "I would find it difficult to do other than attack him here for not attending to hear my reply and either to make good -his case or withdraw and apologise." Circulating Wild Statements After pointing out that the figures which he quoted on November 14 were obtained from the Air Ministry, Lord Mottistone concluded: —"It is wrong for a man controlling great organs of opinion to circulate to millions of people wild statements which cannot be verified. It is high time your lordships expressed the view that these things should not continue." Lord Newton recalled that he formerly extracted £SOOO from the Daily Mail for libel. If Lord Mottistone followed his example he would probably succeed to a more startling extent. He hoped that if Lord Rothermere did not attend and give satisfaction Lord Mottistone would not hesitate to take action and administer the lesson which was richly deserved. The Marquess of Lpndonderry, Secretary for Air, on behalf of the Government, said Lord Mottistone was perfectly justified in bringing the matter before the House when he found himself first accused of misleading the House, and later with making an incautious statement.

This ended the debate on the subject.