ARMY SECRET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23094, 20 July 1938, Page 14

ARMY SECRET

PRIVILEGE CASE SPEAKER'S RULING COMMONS DISCUSSION tt/ABOUR LEADER'S MOVE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, July IS In the House of Commons to-day, the Speaker, Captain Fitzlioy, in giving his ruling regarding a point raised by Lieut.-Colonel Hcneage (Labour, Louth), in connection with the privilege case involving the Official Secrets Act, disclosed that new information was to hand that members of the Military Court were not aware that Mr. D. Sandj s (Conservative, Norwood) had been summoned to give evidence and was thereby not responsible for a breach of privilege. The Speaker suggested that the matter bo dropped as the committee's report, which did not reflect on anyone, was not affected. Tho Prime Minister, Air. Chamberlain, and Sir Archibald Sinclair, Liberal Leader, agreed that no further action bo taken, but Air. C. R. Attleo, Leader of the Labour Opposition, tabled a motion referring tho report back to the committee on the grounds that tho House on July II was misled into censuring innocent parties. A sensation was caused in the House '"of Commons on Thursday last when Lieut.-Colonel Heneage, supported by "Air. Winston Churchill, asked the ; Speaker's advice in view of information in their possession, which was in•consifitent with the information on ; t which the Committee on Privileges had :founded its report. Air. Churchill, speaking as a member >bf the committee, said he was of the ■opinion that the decision was made on •a misleading presentation of facts. The • censure appeared to have fallen on in:noce'fit persons. Tho Speaker said the matter was without precedent, and promised to give a ruling later. . It was understood that the basis or the sensation was an allegation that the ;Militarv Court was not responsible for •the issue of the subpoena to Air. Sandys, who was summoned to appear before the Court in regard to a question •on anti-aircraft guns which was alleged "to a breach of the Official Secrets .'Act.