CABINET SECRETS.

Wairarapa Age, 23 December 1932, Page 6

CABINET SECRETS.

MINISTERIAL OBLIGATIONS DEFINED. STATEMENT BY VISCOUNT HAILSHAM. DISCLOSURE AN OFFENCE & BREACH OF HONOUR. (Received Thursday, 7 p.mr) LONDON, December 22. In the House of Lords, Viscount Hailsham, in the course of a debate on Cabinet disclosures, said there seemed to be a general misconception that the only obligation on members of Cabinet was not to disclose Cabinet minutes. As a matter of fact, the obligation applied to all Cabinet conclusions, to all documents, memoranda, despatches and papers and even to a Minister’s recollection as to what took place. The Official Secrets Act provided a penalty of two years' imprisonment for either members of Cabinet or the Civil Service who disclosed confidential Cabinet information. He hoped the debate had clarified the position and shown the wisdom of retaining the old rule of complete secrecy in all its rigour and inflexibility. The Lord Chancellor said he hoped that henceforth there would be no Cabinet leakages. It was not only a breach of an oath and an offence under the Official Secrets Act, but a breach of personal honour to disclose Cabinet proceedings. Without secrecy, the system of Cabinet Government would come to an end.

(On the occasion of the debate on war debts in the House of Commons on December 14, it was reported that Mr. Lloyd George caused a sensation by advancing to the table with a dossier of papers which he admitted were notes of Cabinet on the question in the days of the Coalition. He admitted that he was not entitled to publish papers without the consent of the Prime Minister, who would have to consult His Majesty, though he thought it would serve a public purpose. There Was a series of interjections and cries: “That is unfair," when he declared that. Sir Robert Horne and Sir Austen Chamberlain had dissented from the Balfour Note. Both insisted that they only opposed the Note going to the European Powers, when it was really directed to the United States. Mr. Lloyd George; “That only makes it imperative that the papers be published." Sir Robert Horne: “I have no objee- , George next appealed to Mr. Baldwin, as Leader of the House, who said that he had no obiec twn to publication.)