OFFICIAL SECRETS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23273, 16 February 1939, Page 13

OFFICIAL SECRETS

BILL TO AMEND ACT POWERS OF THE POLICE i PROPOSED LIMITATION QUESTIONING SPY SUSPECTS By Telegraph—Press Association —Cqpyright Independent Cable Service (Received February 15, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 15 A bill introduced in Parliament to-day to amend the Official Secrets Act limits the interrogation powers of the police to cases of suspected espionage, in which the chief officer of the police may apply to tho Home Secretary for permission to question anyone believed to be able to supply information. In cases of great emergency the police may act without permission, but must immediately report to the Home Secretary.

The measure recalls the breach of privilege case in which Mr. Duncan Sandys, M.P. for Lambeth, was the central figure.

Mr. Sandys obtained in May from the adjutant of the 51st Anti-Aircraft Brigade, in which he is a lieutenant, precise figures regarding the emergency plan of defence, with the intention of asking a question in the House of Commons about the shortage of guns and equipment. Mr. Sandys was summoned by the Army Council to attend a Court of Inquiry as a witness, but after he had brought the matter before the House, it was held that the summons was a breach of privilege. This matter was then allowed to drop, but a Select Committee was instructed to report on the circumstances in which the summons was issued. It expressed the opinion that no objection could be taken to General Ironside's action in directing that Mr. Sandys should be summoned to appear, following the Army Council's instruction that a Court of Inquiry should be set up, but the Army Council should have postponed the assembly of the Court after the proceedings in the House of Commons. For both the act and the omission the Secretary of State for War, Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, took full responsibility.