EXONERATED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 35, 16 June 1913, Page 5

EXONERATED.

DEALINGS (N MARCONIS.

THE PRESS AND THE REPORTS

[By Electric Telegraph—Copykicht ' [United Press Association. 1 London, June 14. The press comments follow party lines. Each accuses the other of creating an atmosphere of poisonous partisanship. All welcome the exoneration of the Ministers of the Crown from corruption. The Chronicle says that the opening for misconstruction should have been avoided. It refers to the extraordinary lack of knowledge exhibited by Mr Lloyd George and Lord Murray of Elibank regarding Stock Exchange affairs. The Times says that the whole thing is a mistake. The indiscretions could have been avoided if Ministers had not been thinking more of moneymaking' than the responsibility and dignity of office. The Daily Mail says that a tribunal of political factions is no proper court to deal with the honor of public men. The committee's verdict is not impartial. It proceeded on deeply biassec

lines. The report finds that Ministers acted in the sincere belief that nothing in their action conflicted with their duty to the Crown. There was no foundation to the charges which appear to have originated on the Stock Exchange. There was no evidence to support the allegation that any Minister advantaged himself by knowledge acquired officially. The report condemns the publication of unfounded changes against Mr Lloyd George, Sir Rufus Isaacs and Mr Stuart Samuel. None of Sir Rufus Isaacs's or Lord Murray of Elibank's purchases were in any way corrupt. Lord Cecil's report declares that Ministers were not influenced in the discharge of their duties, nor did they itilise official knowledge for investment or speculation, but Sir Rufm icted with grave impropriety in making advantageous purchases upon adnee unavailable to the public, and had placed himself unwittingly in a position where his private interest might conflict with his public duty. Mr Lloyd George and Lord Murray ol Elibank were open to similar censure. The wireless agreemnt was an essential factor of the whole structure of Marconi's finance. American shares were at Mr Godfrey Isaacs's; disposal as agent for an English company. His offer to Sir Rufus might be due to fraternal affection, hut in view of rumors of a Parliamentary attack ta the contract the impression was creit'ed that it was partly due to less neditable motives. There was clearly i speculative element to Ministers' transactions. The Ministers' reticence in the face of persistent press rumors was deplorable. Sir A: Spicer's original report-con-sidered that it would have been better if Sir Rufus Isaacs had not acquired American shares, because the relationship of the English and American companies was calculated to create misconception; It added that if the Ministers : had furnished the facts subsequently, and disclosed Martin's action, much misunderstanding would lave been averted. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, June 15. An article in the Nation hopes that Ministers will frankly admit their er ror in connection with their Marconi dealings. The paper states that it if incumbent upon Sir Rufus Isaacs tc shoulder the full burden of his error. The Spectator calls upon Mr Asquith to clear up the suspicious rumourr in circulation that many members o 1 the Ministry had invested in Marconi s.