§ Mr. LANSBURYI wish to raise a personal matter and ask the indulgence of the House while I explain it. I have, received a letter from the hon. and gallant Member for Altrincham (Major Sir George Hamilton) and would like to read it to the House. It is dated the 29th November, 1922, and reads as follows:
§ "DEAR SIR,
§ You said last night—I quote from Hansard—'There have been lying statements made about this business. Yesterday a Member apologised to me for making untrue statements.' I quote my apology from the OFFICIAL REPORT. 'I understood that the deputation which went to Downing Street was led by the hon. Member. If I was wrong I withdraw, and most humbly apologise to him.' I have now made further inquiries, and I am informed that the deputation received by Mr. Lloyd George was led by you and five other Mayors—and while or after the late Prime Minister was receiving you a not took place (which I witnessed) of a serious nature. I never accused you of leading the riot, nor intended to, but I stated you led the deputation and proceesion of the unemployed and the riot followed. My statement was true, and you accepted an apology from me for a possible misunderstanding of what I had meant by my interpolation. I trust you will be more careful in referring in future to 'lying statements' and apologies for 'untrue statements.'
§ Yours faithfully,
§ (Signed) GEORGE C. HAMILTON."
§ I have looked up the OFFICIAL REPORT, and I find that the Prime Minister was referring to a deputation which had gone to Downing Street and of which I was a member. I will quote from the OFFICIAL REPORT:
§ "THE PRIME MINISTER: I had in my mind the recollection of a very serious riot caused by the unemployed near Downing Street. I thought it was quite possible that something of the same sort would occur again.
§ MAJOR SIR GEORGE HAMILTON: Led by the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury).
§ MR. LANSBTTRY: On a point of Order. I have never led any men in a riot of any sort or kind.
§ HON. MEMBERS: Withdraw! Withdraw!
§ MR. SPEAKER: After that display, I am certain that the hon. and gallant Member for Altrincham will withdraw what he said.
§ SIR G. HAMILTON: Of course I will. I understood that the deputation which went to Downing Street was led by the hon. Member. If I was wrong, I withdraw and most humbly apologise to him."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th November, 1922; col. 402, Vol. 169.]
904§ My own statement on 28th November, 1922, was as follows:
§ "MR. LANSBURY: There have been lying statements made about this business. Yesterday a Member apologised to me for making untrue statements that I had been bringing these men up to Whitehall. The hon. Member says that I am responsible …."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 28th November, 1922; col. 650, Vol. 159.]
§ I only want to say on the whole business that I understood the hon. and gallant Member to charge me with leading a riot, and I think the House thought so at the moment. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] That is what I understood. As the matter went through, I accepted the hon. and gallant Member's apology on the understanding that it was for that matter he was apologising. [HON. MEMBERS: "Agreed."] Then I received this letter. I want to make it quite clear to the House that, although I hold very strong views on social, economic and other questions, and I want to express them, I do not wish to say even an unkind word about anyone who disagrees with me. Had I known that the hon. Member was only referring to that deputation, although I was not the leader of the deputation, I should have got up, and said that I misunderstood him. I unreservedly withdraw any sort of imputation which my language may have conveyed.