LIBEL ACTION FAILS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 171, 14 April 1919, Page 5

LIBEL ACTION FAILS

AUTHOR OF ATTACKS ON MR, LLOYD GEORGE. London, April 4 (delayed). At the hearing of the libel action brought by Sir Hedley Le Bas against the "Daily Mail," the plaintiff said he_ regarded Mr. Lloyd George's accession to power ,os a national misfortune. He stated that General Haig and Lord Milner, and not Mr. Lloyd George, wero responsible for Marshal Foch'a appointment as generalissimo. The plaintiff denounced the dismissals of Lord Jellicoe and Sir William Robertson. The payment for the insertion of articles was not new; CobdeM and Mr. Bottomley had adopted tie method. Counsel for the defence explained that he, did not .charge the plaintiff with trying to assist'tho enemy from unworthy motives. It was never suggested that he was anything but a loyal-minded gentleman; but he conducted his political campaign in an unworthy and deceptive manner. The special jury gave a verdict for the defendants—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.

[Sir Hedley Le Bas sued the "Daily Mail" for libel in respect of articles accusing him, the publisher and proprietor of the "Westminster News Agency," ot attempting to corrupt the Press by paying for the insertion of political articles in tho country's papers to overthrow tho Lloyd George Government by underhand methods, while posing as a supporter of the Government. The defence was that thj articles contained truth and fair comment. Plaintiff gave evidence that the articles were signed by well-knoivn men. He spent .£730 in publishing his articles in-fifty-or sixty newspapers. He acted with honest views in tho country s interest. He never was a supporter, ot Mr. Lloyd George, his sympathy being with Mr. Asquith. Ho never suggested I hat the latter should return, becauso Lord Northcliffe's "Daily Mail" had widermined Mr. Asnuith's standing. He would have chosen General Smuts is Prime Minister during tho war.]