§ 35. Mr. Blakerasked the Attorney-General whether he is now able to announce the result of the investigation by the Director of Public Prosecutions into the activities of the Vietnam Information Group.
§ The Attorney-General (Sir Elwyn Jones)The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to bring any criminal proceedings in respect of such activities of this group as have been reported to him.
§ Mr. BlakerWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House on what grounds that decision was taken? Is it because it is not an offence to encourage the members of allied forces to desert?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe answer to the last part of that supplementary question is, of course, "No." It is an offence, under the Army Act, to encourage desertion among members of the American Armed Forces. I do not know that it is appropriate for the Attorney-General to give the reasons why the Director has, in any given case, decided not to prosecute, but he came to the conclusion that, in this case, the public interest would not be served by a prosecution.
§ Mr. HoggIn asking a supplementary question, may I ask whether the right hon. and learned Gentleman is aware that we on this side of the House have suffered a tragic loss in the death of Sir John Hobson? May I ask him to accept that my hon. Friends and I fully realise the impartial nature of the office which he holds in deciding whether or not to institute criminal proceedings?
§ The Attorney-GeneralIf I may, I should like to share the emotions and 946 feelings expressed by the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) and to add that the loss of Sir John to the House and to the Bar is a grave loss and that the personal loss to each one of us is considerable.