§ MR. A. C. MORTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department will he explain on what 1145 grounds further proceedings were abandoned by the Metropolitan Police respecting illegal sales of Army cloth to City firms, which the evidence in their possession connected with the firm of Messrs. Terry and Co., of Milk Street; whether a person connected with the City Police threatened those whom he believed had in their possession the invoices of the cloth purchased by Messrs. Terry of Couper with prosecution if they did not surrender them; and for what reasons Inspector Mitchell, of the City Police, subsequently called on witnesses who had given evidence to the Metropolitan Police and demanded the return to Messrs. Terry and Co. of documents incriminating that firm which had been laid before the Scotland Yard Authorities?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Metropolitan Police, in making inquiries, have throughout acted for the Military Authorities and on the instructions of the Treasury Solicitor. Subsequent to the Military Court of Inquiry being held, the police have received no further instructions. I am informed that Messrs. Terry's solicitor made an official complaint to the City Police respecting an alleged theft of documents connected with their clients' business. Inspector Mitchell was instructed, in the usual course, to make inquiries. It is not the fact, as I understand, that Inspector Mitchell has demanded from anyone the return of any documents connected with Messrs. Terry's business.
§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)Will the police make further inquiries? What were these documents? I understand that they were the nefarious invoices Messrs. Terry had obtained in buying this cloth at the military depôt at Canterbury.
§ MR. ASQUITHAs I said before, the Military Authorities are responsible, but I will certainly make further inquiries.