CLEAN NAME

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 105, 28 January 1935, Page 9

CLEAN NAME

Vindication of Sir John Simon END OF SLANDER SUIT “No Shares in Armament Firms” ACCUSER’S APOLOGY By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, January 25. “It is a foul calumny. The whole of the words are utterly untrue,” declared Mr. Norman Birkett, K.C., Sir John Simon's counsel in the King’s Bench Division, before the Chief Justice, Lord Hewart, when a slander suit in which Sir John Simon brought action against the Rev. J. Whitaker Bond. Methodist minister of Norfolk, was settled. Mr. Bond in a speech declared that Sir John Simon condemned the League of Nations Union peace ballot because lie had invested money in armament firms. Mr. Birkett declared that nothing more terrible could fie said about a public man than that lie used his great office secretly and corruptly for profit and that ho would obstruct and defeat efforts for freedom. "Sir John Simon does not possess a single investment in a single armament company. Sir John desires me to say." added counsel, “that there have been hints and innuendoes and veiled suggestions here and on the Continent and in America, which Sir John has done bis utmost to combat.” The defendant said: “I am convinced that my statemen;, was entirely ill considered and unwarranted and I apologise to Sir John Simon, who has treated me with great consideration in forgoing damages.” “THIS FOUL CALUMNY” Plaintiff Treats Defendant Generously NOT ONLY INSTANCE (British Official Wireless.) Rugby,. January 25. A settlement of the slander actiot in which the Foreign Secretary, Sir John Simon, was the plaintiff was announced to the Lord Chief Justice in the King’s Bench Division this morning. The defendant was *i Methodist minister, the Rev. Whitaker Bond, and the words complained of were uttered in a speech he delivered at Dereham, in which he said: “What is the cause of warfare? It is your legislators, the men in your Cabinet, for their money is invested'in armament firms. They are prepared to make money out of warfare and bloodshed. The reason why Sir John Simon has been running • down the peace ballot promoted by the League of Nations Union is because his money is invested iu armament firms.” Counsel for Sir John Simon said that it. was a matter of great regret that he felt compelled to bring the action. “I hope it is scarcely necessary to say that the whole of these words are absolutely and utterly untrue,” said Mr. Birkett. “Sir John does not possess one single investment in one single armament company, and the dreadful allegation that his actions have at all been influenced by his investments is ridiculously and utterly false. In fairness to the defendant. Sir John desires me to say that Mr. Bond is not the originator or the first disseminator of this fouf calumny. For more than two years past in this country, on the Continent and in the United States there have been hints, innuendoes and veiled suggestions which Sir John has done his utmost to combat by correspondence and other means.” Counsel put in a signed statement by the defendant, in which he said: “I realise the serious accusation I have made and deeply regret it. lam convinced,” the statement proceeded, “that it was entirely untrue and how wholly unjustified the charge was. I tender my apologies to Sir John Simon. In forgoing any claim to damages Sir John Simon has treated me with great consideration, and I express my regret for the pain and expense which my illconsidered and unwarranted statement has caused him.” The record of the case was withdrawn by consent.