§ Mr. R. MCNEILL(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can make any statement with regard to the Court of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances attending the raid on Sir Theodore Cook and Mr. Blanch?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe terms of reference for the proposed inquiry are: To inquire into the explosive substances submitted to the Munitions Department and to the Allied Governments under the name of halakite, and into the refusal of the Department to use the same; to inquire into the refusal of the War Office to issue a licence to the White Powder Syndicate, Ltd., to trade in explosives and into the subsequent trading or attempt to trade (if any) in explosives entered into by any of the persons, concerned; to inquire into the circumstances which preceded and attended the raid upon Sir Theodore Cook's room at the office of the "Field" newspaper, or any other raid or raids made in relation to the same matter; and to report to the Army Council upon all 807 other such matters connected with the above as in the opinion of the tribunal may be relevant or important.
It is the strong desire of the Government that the inquiry should be an open one. They will make this view known to the tribunal, and it is not anticipated that any difficulty will arise in hearing the evidence in public, unless the tribunal thinks it necessary to hear in camera the technical chemical evidence or any other evidence which evident public interest makes it desirable to preserve secret, such as confidential documents between ourselves and Allied Governments.
It is not possible to hold this inquiry under the Army (Courts of Inquiry) Act, but it is not apprehended that there will be any difficulty in securing the attendance of any witness. My Noble Friend the Secretary of State has been fortunate enough to secure the services, for the purposes of this inquiry, of Mr. Justice Shearman, whose release from his judicial duties has been approved by the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice. Mr. Justice Shearman will be assisted by Professor William Jackson Pope, the distinguished Professor of Chemistry in Cambridge University, as expert assessor. The matter being now sub judice, the House will realise that I shall not be in a position to answer any further questions that may be asked in connection with this matter.
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes my hon. Friend mean that he will not answer this question? Am I to understand from him that all the parties interested will be allowed to be represented by counsel, and will the Court be able to compel the attendance of witnesses?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not sure about the last part of the question, but, in answer to the first part of the question, I can assure my hon. Friend that every person concerned can be represented by counsel.
§ Mr. McNEILLCan my hon. Friend give an assurance to the House that the documents material to that investigation which have been seized by these raiders will be restored before the inquiry is held, and that Mr. Blanch, one of the gentlemen mentioned, will be allowed to bring from Paris the evidence which he may have there without danger of its being taken from him?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAll I can say definitely is that any documents in the possession of the Government will be produced at the inquiry. I cannot say at present with regard to the other parts of my hon. Friend's question. I will see what can be done.
§ Mr. GEORGE LAMBERTWill this tribunal be considered a bar to any further proceedings that may be considered necessary, legal or otherwise?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNot necessarily.