CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9] — Page 221

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only meant to suggest that if he had given more thought to the subject he would have made it his business to press the matter on the Government. They would point out that the writer made

the very same accusation of neglect against the whole Government,

including both Councils.

4.

It would not be possible for the Government to write

demanding an apology and threatening proceedings in case an apology were refused, because any action would have to be by

Hamilton himself and not by the Government.

Mr.

Hamilton

5. If, however, an action were commenced by Mr.

with Government backing, the fact of that backing would no doubt

become known, and the action would in the minds of the jury assume

the charater of an action by the Government. An adverse verdict

would therefore be a rebuff to the Government and I do not think

that the Government ought to embark in litigation unless it is

reasonably sure of probable success.

It is

6. The matter is clearly one of "public interest", and the

defendants would plead that it was only "fair comment".

true that the defence of fair comment on a matter of public

interest does not avail where the passage complained of containe

allegations of fact which are untrue, but, as I have suggested,

the defendants would probably deny that the letter contained

any allegations of neglect of duty by Mr. Hamilton in his office of the Assistant District Officer (South).

7. It might perhaps be suggested that a letter might be

sent to the papers denying on behalf of the Government any neglect of duty by Mr. Hamilton in his office, but I think that

the wisest and most dignified course for the Government to adopt

would be to ignore the letter.

8. I have not been able to obtain a copy of the China

Mail of yesterday, but I am told that the letter appeared in it

in