HC Deb 27 January 1930 vol 234 cc582-4
Sir JOHN SIMON

With your permission, Sir, may I put a question to the Attorney-General? I wish to ask him whether his attention has been called to an article which appeared in the "Daily Express" on Saturday morning last from its special political correspondent on the subject of the Indian Statutory Commission's Report, in which the author professed to be able to reveal the main lines of that Report, and even to disclose differences of opinion between the members of the Commission; and whether the Attorney-General is able to take steps to prevent a repetition of these misstatements?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir William Jowitt)

I am obliged to my right hon. Friend for raising this important matter without delay.

I read the article referred to with surprise and regret. Such an article, if based on genuine materials, must have meant a grave breach of the Official Secrets Act, and must have implied that some disclosure either deliberate or careless had been made by a member of the Commission, or by one of its experienced and entirely trustworthy staff, relating to matters which it is their duty to keep to themselves. The consequences, especially in India, upon the future work of the Commission would manifestly be disastrous.

I, therefore, communicated with Mr. Blumenfeld, Chairman of the "Daily Express." On my pointing out to him the serious public interests involved, he placed himself unreservedly in my hands, and, with his assistance, I was able to ascertain that the person who furnished the information on which the article was based was an Indian journalist, a Mr. Vishnu Karandikar, living in London, who had for some months past supplied information to the "Daily Express" on non-political Indian matters, which had hitherto been found to be trustworthy. The information in question was contained in certain documents handed by Mr. Karandikar to the "Daily Express." These were handed over to me. I have shown these documents to my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission. He tells me that they are worthless in character.

Late last night, or rather early this morning, Mr. Karandikar, together with the member of the "Daily Express" staff who actually wrote the article, came to see me. Mr. Karandikar informed me that he came of his own free will and desired to make a complete statement of all the facts within his knowledge. He expressed his desire to make this statement in the presence of my right hon. Friend the Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, who was good enough to come.

Mr. Karandikar then explained that he was himself the author of the materials which he had supplied to the "Daily Express," and that he had no inside or secret knowledge whatever. I hold in my hand, and propose to read to the House a voluntary confession in Mr. Karandikar's own handwriting and signed by him: I have no actual information from any official source about the story I gave to the 'Daily Express,' regarding a forecast of the Simon Commission's Report. The whole thing was written by me without any facts, made up by what I considered from my close study of the Indian situation must be taking place. It was a lie when I represented to the 'Daily Express' that I had any official source from anybody, either open or secret. This was suggested by me, and the plea bolstered up by further statements in order to sell the story at a time when I was in very great need of money and to get the most I can out of the same. Signed by me, VISHNU KARANDIKAR, carrying on business as the Indian News Service at 143, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. Dated the 28th January, 1930.

HON. MEMBERS

The 28th? That is to-morrow!

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

It was written at a late hour of the night or an early hour of the morning, and no doubt he got confused as to the date. It was, in fact, signed in the early hours of this morning. I suggest in fairness that the good faith of the "Daily Express" is, of course, not in question, and, indeed, I desire to express my acknowledgment for the paper's assistance, without which I could not have got this information. I feel confident that after this experience we shall be able to rely upon the wholehearted co-operation of the Press in connection with the work of this Commission, so as to render resort to such powers as I possess wholly unnecessary.

Sir J. SIMON

Might I, in a sentence, be allowed to thank my hon. and learned Friend, on behalf both of the members of the Statutory Commission and of their staff, for the way in which he has handled this matter?