§ 41. Mr. McAllisterasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies to what extent the Chairman of the Colonial Development Corporation, when he visits various parts of the world, has full personal authority to purchase properties for dollars on behalf of the corporation; and if he will give details of all recent purchases involving the repatriation of United States of America capital, contrary to President Truman's Point Four and the policy of His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsThe suggestions to which my hon. Friend refers, are, of course, entirely misconceived and inaccurate. They were made only in the "Financial Times," in which newspaper a campaign of criticism of the Corporation is being anonymously conducted under the pseudonym of "Observer." The Corporation was obliged last week to issue a statement pointing out the inaccuracy of many statements made in this newspaper. I feel bound to express my regret that a responsible newspaper should give currency to criticisms of this kind without making any attempt to check their accuracy.
§ Mr. McAllisterWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask him if he will see that the statement in reply to this malicious and untrue attack is circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, and should not some steps be taken to let us know the identity of the writer of the articles, because, although the newspaper may be responsible, the writer clearly is not?
§ Mr. GriffithsI shall consider whether I can circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. ShackletonHas not the Minister used very strong language, in view of what I thought was the well-known fact that the author of these articles was the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bournemouth, East and Christchurch (Mr. Bracken)?
§ Mr. GriffithsIf I used strong language, it is because I feel that the House itself would feel strongly about the statement that Lord Trefgarne goes about the world with a cheque book, in order to spend the taxpayers' money on projects that take his fancy.