1938-06-30 — Page 11

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 30, 1938

ON

TENSE DEBATE PRIVILEGES OF M.P.S.

Mr. Duncan Sandys Ordered Before Military Court

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE

London, To-day.

The case of Mr. Duncan Sandys, unionist member for Norwood, whose draft of a parliamentary question on Britain's air defences brought him in conflict with the Official Secrets Act entered upon a new phase when the matter was debat- ed in the House of Commons yesterday. Mr. Sandys informed the House that as an officer of the Territorial Army, he had been ordered to appear in uniform before a Military Court of Inquiry.

that an officer had been guilty

a breach of trust and hence the Army Council would have neglect ed its duty if it had failed to take immediate steps. He had straight with ordered the setting up of a Court of Inquiry which

AMBASSADOR

NOT ENGAGED IN

no account disregard the privileger PEACE MISSION

and rights of Parliament. No,

member of the Army Council would take part in the inquiry and the Army Council would not arrive at a decision before the interrogation had been concluded. Trans-Ocean.

DRAMATIC SEQUEL. Yesterday's developments in con- nection with the question of Par- .Commons on Monday has had a liamentary privilege raised in the dramatic sequel..

At the end of Commons question address the Speaker and announc- time, Mr. Duncan Sandys rose to

had received orders to appear this officer of the Territorial Army, he

He asked whether this invitation to appear before a

Military Tribunal did not constitute a contra-ed that, in his capacity as an vention of the privileges of the House of Com-

mons.

He, therefore, asked the House [gans of the government. The only to decide whether his casé con-contact Parliament had with stituted a breach of the privileges Army Council was of the House of Commons.

person, of the Secretary for The Speaker declared was not in a position to decide Council.

that he who was the Chairman of the whether a breach of this sort had

г

Tuesday night.

the

KERR, BRITISH AMBASSADOR

SIR ARCHIBALD CLARK.

MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF TO CHINA, ACCOMPANIED BY

ARRIVED IN THE EMPRESS® OF RUSSIA FROM SHANGHAI THIS MORNING.

His Excellency refused to make a statement to the press but a member of his entourage told reporters that the trip to of "peace talks," as had been re- Hankow was not for the purpose ported recently.

Adviser to the British Embassy, Mr. E. Hall Patch, Economic Wing Comdr. Kirby, Air Attache, and Mr. Allen, private secretary, are travelling with the Ambassa- dor.

morning, in uniform, to give evid-

enquiry set up by the General ence before the military court of

the Officer Commanding-in-Chief, East-

Sir Archibald and his party. through the ern Command, in conformity with crossed the harbour by special War the decision of the Army Council launch this morning and proceed- Army made public by the War Office oned to Government House where, this morning, he was reported to The Secretary for War could not Mr. Sandys appealed to

be busily engaged on the tele- occurred. He had merely to decide dissociate himself from any action Speaker for guidance and said the grams that were waiting for him. whether Mr. Sandys had created a of the Army Council just as the question of how far it was permis- prima facie case and his answer

This afternoon, he will leave was in the affirmative. In other government could not dissociate sible to compel a Member of for Mountain Lodge where he words, a Select Committee would itself from a decision taken by the Parliament to divulge a source of will spend the night, and to- have to be appointed to inquire Secretary for War.

information used by him in dis-morrow morning he will proceed whether a contravention of the At this point, Mr. Chamberlain charge of his Parliamentary duties to Hankow by air. privileges of the House and of the intervened with the remark that they the House and, in those circum- was in process of being considered Committée of Inquiry set up by the SELECT COMMITTEE Army Council did not intend to instances, he submitted it was gross Mr. Chamberlain rose to say that vestigate the reproaches levelled at breach of the privilege of the in view of the view expressed by Mr. Sandys but would have to exto give evidence before a military House that he should be summoned the Speaker, it would be best to an ine the charges, made against submit the whole matter to a another officer, of having passed on Select Committee appointed by, the secret information. House, and he would like to intro- duce the corresponding motion.

members had occurred,

Later on in the debate, the Prime Minister announced that Mr. Hore- Belisha, Secretary for War, was prepared to defer military inter- rogation until the Select Committee had reached a decision. The War Office had taken this step because the Army Council had invited Mr. Sandys to give evidence as a wit-

ness.

INSULT TO PARLIAMENT In the course of the ensuing debate, Major Attlee described the whole attitude of the Government in the Sandys Affair as an insult to Parliament.

The Prime Minister hereup pointed out that in a case of is kind, where it was a question "of disclosing secret information, ac- tion on the part of the Attorney General would follow automatically regardless of the attitude adopted by the Government in the matter.

Mr. Winston Churchill, father-in- law of Mr. Duncan Sandys spoke in support of the Prime Minis- ter's motion to appoint a Select Committee. In taking this line, the Prime Minister had acted in accor dance with the high traditions of Parliament.

Mr. Churchill then demanded that Mr. Sandys should not be subjected to compulsory interrogation as the case would first be examined by the select Committee.

PARLIAMENT PRIORITY Sir Percy Harris, Opposition Liberal, claimed full priority for Parliament over the executive or

tribunal.

CASE MADE. OUT

.

FAR EASTERN MIRROR

He asked the Speaker to declare The War Office had already pro that he had made out a prima "Far Eastern Mirror" has just The new issue of the fortnightly mises to ask the Army Council to facie case of breach of privilege. postpone the interrogation of his

been published and is on sale at officer until the Select Committee member for Norwood had made out

The Speaker ruled that the all book-sellers, had pronounced its verdict

The journal features many a prima facie case of breach of specially articles interesting and privilege and the matter was refer-informative, in connection with the Council was under

Mr. Hore Belisha said that Army red to the Committee of Privileges. Sino-Japanese conflict, by both

impression-British Wireless.

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