ZINOVIEFF LETTER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1928, Page 2

ZINOVIEFF LETTER

(Australian & N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON', Alaich 4. Air Ramsay AlacDonald in a statement ill reply to .Marlowe says me receipt of two copies of the Zinoviell letter from frauds was pertoctly conclusive that a conspiracy existed for the use oi the letter lor political purposes in connection with the election. The fact that the letters differed shows there must have been two originals or two sets of people copying the original letter, the existence of which was not proved because nobody had seen it. Alarlowe’s references to my conversations regarding fire-gory are absolutely untrue. Aloreover it is now dear that the "Daily .Mail's' threats of publications forced the hands of the Foreign Office official during my absence, resulting in the sending ol a note to Rakovsky ami publishing the note without my knowledge. The "Daily .Mail's’’ excuse is that it believed I was suppressing the Zinovieff letter owing to fear of influence of the election. Lord Crewe’s assumed publication of the note to Rakovsky could have stopped the attack. I'TRTIIKR t'OMAIKNT. LONDON. Mari'h I. Mr MacDonald added: That would not have suited the purposes <o' those who had made up their minds that the Labourites must he defeated by hook or by crook. Iherelore I must point out that the Treasury inquiry proved the members of the foreign Office were not. convinced ol the authority of the letter. In any event it was the foreign Secretary who should have been convinced thereof. Furthermore it is now dear that there was knowledge ol the letter outside the Foreign Office and that knowledge was used dishonestly to stampede the public against the Govornment. 1 warmly repudiate Afarlowe s amplication that I was able to receive the Government Departments confidential documents and use them for political purpose. I think the foreign offices erred in judgment, and | still cannot understand how T, although at the end of a telephone, Mas not informed for six hours ot the "Daily Mail's’ intentions and that the Foreign Office was sending a note to Rakovsky. AH' AfaeDonnld added that Alarlowe’s letter is a confession that the Zinovieff letter "as probably a fake. Us use was certainly a H'attd. therefore its publication renders -n enquiry more essential. Commissioner Thomas speaking •> Darlington said: "AA’e are asking l.nliament. how people were l.nwkmg the Xmovieff letter about, how t hey veie able to Like U *<> the "Da. y Mail when it ought not io have h-lt Kerci.rn Office. We believe every.decent minded in Britain will suppm t „ s i„ the interests of purity of public life.” _____