Why the Secrecy?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 9

Why the Secrecy?

ROYAL OAK INQUIRY

Querulous Commoners

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Received Noon LONDON, Thursday. IN the liouse of Commons Colonel C. M. Headlam, Parlia- * mentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in answering a <|iiestion saitl that the Royal Oak courtmartial would be held at the earliest possible date.

THE Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean PTeet would settle the charges in public. Commander C. Bellairs (Conservative): Will the officers go to Gibraltar not knowing the charges? Colonel Headlam: No. Commander Bellairs: Then, why not inform the House? Colonel Headlam: It is never the custom to reveal the charges of a. court-martial. Lieut.-CoYnmander J. M. Kenworthy (Labour): In view o£ the extraordinary stories in the Press, ought net the whole facts be available to the public at the earliest moment? Colonel Headlam: The Admiralty sees no reason why this court-martial should be different from any other. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy: As we must go back a century to find the case of a rear-admiral being forced to haul down his flag, is hot this more than an ordinary court-martial?

There is no question of the fairness of the court-martial, but if the reference to the Court is restricted the matter cannot properly be examined. Colonel Headlam: All this is as clear to the Admiralty as it is to you.”— A. and N.Z.-Sun.