FIFTH COLUMN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 May 1940, Page 6

FIFTH COLUMN

CHARGES BY VISCOUNT EUBANK

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE.

SIR OSWALD MOSLEY AND HIS ASSOCIATES DENOUNCED.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.

(Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. May 23

Viscount Elibank, initiating a debate in the House of Lords on members of the Fifth Column, said Sir Oswald Mosley had much to answer for and many would like to see him in a place where he could do less harm than lie was doing today. His paper. “Action.” constantly contained paragraphs contrary to everything for which we were fighting. The Communists’ paper, the “Daily Worker,” was also doing its best to undermine the people and country. Finally, members of the Pledged-to-Peace organisation were spreading leaflets throughout the country. All three organisations were pledged to stop the war .as soon as possible at any price. Fascists and Communists had also pledged themselves to upset the constitution and remodel it in accordance with their own views. Viscount Elibank urged the Government to investigate the personnel of the 8.8. C., which would be one of the first institutions seized by the Nazis’ invading force. “I know al least one person in the 8.8. C. who certainly should not occupy his position. He is married to a German lady whose brother is fighting against Britain.”

Viscount Elibank said “Lord Hawhaw” was reportedly Mosley’s righthand man before he went to Germany. “Lord Hawhaw” was an AngloIrish renegade traitor, bclievedly named Joyce. How do we know he is not receiving information from British Fascists?” he asked. Viscount Elibank Alleged that not long after the outbreak of the war the British Navy found its operations hampered by information conveyed to the enemy. The Navy demanded stronger action against espionage. The Home Office reluctantly consented to create alien tribunals. The Duke of Devonshire denied Viscount Elibank’s allegation and claimed that the Home Office was far from reluctant in dealing with enemy aliens. He added that the alien population, including refugees, at the outbreak of war totalled 238,000, which was one-tenth of France’s total. Our position was very different from that of Holland,' where a hundred thousand German residents co-operated with the Dutch Nazis. Our aliens had been under supervision since 1915. The vast majority of enemy aliens were in jobs of which many were of great national importance. Refugees had established a number of valuable new industries in Britain.

TREACHERY BILL PASSES ALL STAGES. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. May 23. The Treachery Bill has passed all stages in both Houses. FASCIST ACTIVITIES POLICE SEARCH HEADQUARTERS AND HOMES. QUANTITIES OF DOCUMENTS SEIZED. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. The police visited the headquarters of the British Union Fascist Organisation. The police searched the building and took off in a van quantities of documents. The police also searched a house in the West End, sometimes occupied by Sir Oswald Mosley and took a large number of documents. John Beckett, a former leading member of the Fascist Union and at present a leading member of the British Council for Christian Settlement has been arrested. Beckett left Sir Osward Mosley’s organisation with William Joyce (said to be "Lord Hawhaw”), and formed Socialist Party.

POWER TO DETAIN REGULATION AMENDED. (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 23. An Order-in-Council amends Regulation 18, giving, the Home Secretary power to detain any person, firstly, associated with any organisation which is subject to foreign control; secondly, associated with any organisation controlled by persons connected or sympathising witif a system of government of any power with which Britain is at war.