MR. ASQUITHS' VINDICATION.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1916, Page 8

MR. ASQUITHS' VINDICATION.

•. MALICIOUS TITTLE-TATTLE. ■ LIBEL COSTS £IWJO. i London, March 23. It is very questionable whether the wife of uny politician of modem times has 'been the subject of so ninth malicious and vicious tittle-tattle us Mrs. Asquith. She has from time to time been most cruelly libelled by loose-' tongued irresponsibles of both sexes, es- , peeially among the middle classes. One | I of the most vicious stories in circulation against the Prime Minister's wife H«t yeax was to the efi'ect that she luul made the German prisoners of war at ! Donnington, Hall her special pets, and to her influence was attributed all the comforts and luxuries with which it was alleged our unwilling guests there tyre surrounded. She herself was accused of loading the prisoners with all sorts of delicacies purchased from most expensive purveyors, of visiting the Hall with lady friends to play tennis with tile German inmates, and to enliven the monotony of their lives with tea-parties and musical entertainments, and so 011. In many cases the gossips '''named no names"; others not only named Mrs. Asquith and her daughter, but purported to identify tlieir lady assistants in the work of cherishing the Hun. These tales were ; told in such a manner that the unsophisticated recipient of the gossips' "confidences" might well conclude that our Prime Minister's wife was really "a terrible person" of the most pronounced pro-German proclivities, who, for the sake of the (Empire, should be interned forthwith. Later certain newspapers began to hint at undesirable "goings on" at Donnington Hall, in wliicli 'the wife of a certain political personage" was taking a prominent part, and finally the Globe invited the world to guess at the identity of "the wife of a Cabinet Minister," who, according to a series ot" anonymous letters which it published, ■ had been comforting the Donnington Huns with parcels of delicacies procured from the famous London house of Fortnnm and' Mason. iPrivately, at any rate, the great majority of people were certain that "the wife of a Cabinet Minister" was merely a roundabout way of saying "Mrs. Asquith," and that lady and her friends were in agreement with the majority. So Mrs. Asquith, in December last, took steps to silence the tongue of slander. She sought and obtained an injunction to prevent the Globe publishing such statements pending the hearing of a lihel action against that newspaper. The, filobe at that time, while apologising for the publication of the letters, disclaimed any intantion to attack Mrs. Asquith, but when he action for libel came on tliis week, it was announced that the newspaper had agreed to pay Mrs. Asquith £IOOO to indemnify her against the costs of the, proceedings, and, generally spending, to "climb down" most completely.

For, as her counsel. Mr. Duke, K.C., put it, "the satisfaction of the minds of honest and decent-minded people," Mrs. Asqnith went into the box to declare on oath that she had never done the things attributed to her in connection with the German prisoners at Donnington Hal!. "Did you at any time hold any communication with any person in Donnington Hall?" Mr. Duke asked, comprehensively. "No," was the reply.

"Did you send any kind of present or communication to any person 111 Donnington Hall," —"Never.''

"Or cause any such thing to be done?" —"Never."

"Did any such present or communication go to Donnington Hall from your household?"—" No."

"It was alleged that you sent delicacies from Fortnum and Mason's. What present of delicacies did you at any time send from Fortnum and Mason's?"—"To my son at the Dardanelles." "Did you send any other?"—" Never."

Lieut. Meyer, who was interpreter fit Donnington Hall at tlie time it opened in February, 191(5, and later became adjutant, and whose duty it was to supervise and examine the communications and parcels which came to the camp, was also called. ITe declared on oath that 110, communication br parcel had been received from Mrs. Asquith, nor from any member of her family, nor from the wife of any other Cabinet Minister.

The Judge, in commenting on the case, expressed the view that it had boon established beyond any question thai there was not a word of truth in this libel from beginning to end. and expiessed the pious hope that "this exposure may possibly prevent some members of the public from giving so easy a credence to other malicious and irresponsible tittle-tattle."

But the Judge's hope is vain. So long as the war lasts, so long will tales of the alleged nefarious doings of the feminine belongings of men in high placespolitical, military, naval or civilian—be invented, and men and women be found to "pass them on" as gospel truths.