OFFICIAL SECRETS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21155, 30 September 1938, Page 10

OFFICIAL SECRETS

REPORTS ON SANDYS CASE United Press Association—By Electric Tel egrapb —Copyrlgh t LONDON, September 28. The Official Secrets Committee in its reports on the case of Mr Duncan Sandys, M.P., stated it has no doubt that the document from which the figures obtained, was secret, it believed that Sandys knew he was receiving secret information, the committee was satisfied he was unaware that Hogan was acting wrongly concerning it. The committee added that Mr Sandys threat to the Secretary of State for Air, that he would put down a question in Parliament was unjustified, and the element of subsequent misunderstanding originally introduced by Sandys. The committee acquitted the attorney-general of any intention to threaten Sandys with the use of the compulsory powers of interrogation, but thinks he could have prevented the circumstances arising in this connection.

The committee expressed opinion that no exception could be taken to Ironside’s action in instructing Mr Sandys to be ordered to attended the Court of Inquiry as witness.

An important constitutional question relating to the privileges of members of Parliament in relation to action under the Official Secrets Act, was raised in the House of Commons on June 27, and as the result, a motion was tabled in the following terms: “That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the substance of the statement made on June 27, by the member for Norwood, Mr Duncan Sandys, and the action of the Minister concerned and the general question of the applicability of the Official Secrets Act to members of this House in the discharge of their Parliamentary duties.” The question arose through Mr Sandys forwarding to the War Secretary, a draft of a question he proposed to put on the order paper, the contents of which he was later informed by the Attorney-General, Sir Donald B. Somervell, were held by the War Office to indicate the disclosure of secret information. Sir Donald Somervell asked Mr Sandys if he would assist in tracing the disclosure by revealing the sources of his information.