HC Deb 14 January 1918 vol 101 cc8-11
8. Mr. PEMBERTON BILLING

asked (1) the Minister of Munitions whether he can now state the result of the inquiry on the alleged case of bribery and blackmail in connection with the importation of agricultural tractors; and what action, if any, is being taken; and (2) the Attorney- General if he will produce the correspondence between himself and the Ministry of Munitions with reference to an alleged ease of bribery and blackmail in connection with the importation of agricultural implements; and on what date the papers were deposited with him by the Ministry of Munitions?

Sir W. EVANS

The allegations referred to by the hon. Member have now been fully investigated under the supervision of the Director of Public Prosecutions, with assistance. These allegations rest entirely upon two statutory declarations made by two gentlemen recording a conversation they had had on the same day with a Mr. E. B. Killen, a director of the company, which acted as the agent for the sale of "Moline" tractors in this country.

The statutory declarations were entirely based on this conversation, and the declarants did not purport to deal with the facts as being within their own knowledge, and their statements are not therefore in any sense evidence of such facts recorded in such conversation, but only of the fact that such a conversation took place.

Mr. Killen was examined by the Director of Public Prosecutions in regard to the conversation, but repudiated ever having made some of the most important statements attributed to him, and emphatically denied his having at any time, or to anyone, stated that any agreement or any document in writing was ever in existence, saying that he must have been completely misunderstood.

He did, however, repeat certain allegations based, not upon his own knowledge, but -upon facts which he alleged to have been communicated to him by two of his co-directors. These gentlemen have also been carefully examined, with the result that they, in turn, repudiate all the material statements attributed to them by Mr. Killen.

There is no reason to doubt that, the statutory declarations record with substantial accuracy the statements made by Mr. Killen in the conversation referred to, and I consider that the declarants acted properly in calling the attention of the Minister thereto.

But I am advised by the Director of Public Prosecutions that, as the result of the searching investigation to which the statements then, and subsequently, made by Mr. Killen have been subjected, not only is there no primâ facie case against any officer of the Ministry upon which any proceedings could be launched, but that the result of the investigation has been completely to exonerate the Agricultural Machinery Department of the Ministry and its officers, past and present, from any justifiable suspicion of corrupt practices or of improper conduct.

I regret that Mr. Killen cannot be held criminally responsible for making his slanderous and untrue statements, which, whether made wilfully or carelessly, were calculated to throw doubt upon the honour of patriotic public officials, but I am advised that the form in which his statements were made protects him from such proceedings.

Mr. BILLING

Are we to understand that any statement of this kind can be made by any member of the public accusing a Department of bribery and blackmail, and that the Department can take no action against such civilian whatsoever?

Sir W. EVANS

I would remind the hon. Member that the gentlemen who made these statments did not give any publicity to them. It is the hon. Member himself who gave them publicity.

Mr. BILLING

Are we to understand that this statement has been offered by two responsible citizens, requesting that action should be taken against tins wan for making these statements in their presence, and that the Minister refuses to take such action; and is the Minister prepared to publish the shorthand reports of all the inquiries that they have made or to lay them on the Table of the House?

Sir W. EVANS

The hon. Member has not correctly summarised the statements made. The statements alleged to have been made by Mr. Killen are denied by him.

Mr. BILLING

Do Mr. Killen's co-directors or do they not admit the truth? Do they accuse him or does he accuse them, and in view of the importance of the charge, does the hon. Gentleman not think it advisable that a full inquiry should be made—a public inquiry?

Sir W. EVANS

The fullest possible inquiry has been made. If there was the least chance of success I should continue to proceed.