Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-06-19
Attorney General and ChanceI-
Ior Of ExcheQuer ExcuseI
Their Dealings in AmericanI
Marconi Shares,
LLOYD GEORGE MAKES
REPLY TO CRITICS
Great English Reformer As
SehS Purchases May Have
Been Careless and Untimely
But Were Not Dishonest

London. June iS.-For the first
time in many years British capine,
members were compelled today to de-
fend their personal honesty before
parliament. The attorney general, SIR
Rufus Isaacs. and chancellor OF the
cxchcquer. David l.. George. excused
their dealings in American Marcom
shares on the floor of The house. ana
the final scene in the Marconi affair
which their political enemies had at
tempted to magnify into scandal
rivqlling the Panama debate was
tense and dramatic.
The two ministers admitted that
they had acted thoughtlcssly and mis-
takcnly. although without dishonest
intentions and regretted their failure
te dvnlgo all the facts when they had
made their denials to the house last
october of buying English Marconl
shares.
Having finished their defense. IN
compliance To Che tradition that the
house should be left 10 discuss their
conduct without the embarrassment
of their presence. they walked from
the chamber together. 4 great cheer
from their partisans followed Them
The resolution. introduced hy George
y. Cave. mionist, in behalf of the
opposition. which brought about the
debate. went no further than to ex-
press the regrets of the house at the
action of the ministers and the lack
OF franknoss displayed towards the
house
BY expressing their regret. thereby
agreeing with the resolution, the two
ministers spiked the guns Of their Bit
tcrest opponents. who regarded the
case az an opportunity to make po-
litoal capital
This comparatively tame ending to
d fierce controversy was apparently
the result of Il truce between the
party leaders 10 protect the good name
of parliament The liberals were
threatening, if attacked unreasonably,
to resurreet all the buried shortcom-
Ines OF the conservative ministers.
from almost forgotten graves.
The attorney general emphasized
his desire to take an responsibility
for tempting the chancellor of the ex-
chequcr and Lord Murray of ELI
band. into the affair.
Chancellor Lloyd George could not
refrain from denouncing the journal
lists who had spread rumors Of cor
ruptlon and said
Although the charge of corrup-
tion has been exploded, the dcadly
artcr-damp remains ana the noxious
fumes are poisoning the blood Of the
people now engaged In considering
the minor charges.
II am conscious of having done
nothing to bring any stain on the
honor Of the ministers OF the crown.
II YOU Will, ! acted thoughtlcssly
acted carelcssly. / acted mistakenly,
but acted innocently, openly hon
estly."
After the two ministers had retired,
Lord Robert cecil. who had made
the minority report Of the investigdt-
ing committee censurng the minis
tcrs. caused a small sensation by re-
plying to Chancellor Lloyd Georges
charges He said
'lf | wished, | could have made a
really flaming report I could have
said a great many more things, and
/ am quite ready to tell any member
privately Of some things J rejected
because / did not consider that the
evidence justified me in putting them
before the house of the country
Leo Chiozza Money. liberal, shout
ed
You ought to state them
Lord Robert Cecil replied
Il do not think It fair to state in
public things which there is not
enough evidence TO justify
Stanley owen Buckmaster liberal,
moved as an amendment that the
house should express It's reprobation
of the charges Of corruption
Interest is focused in the closing
speeches Of Premier Asquith and Sir
Edward Grey secretary Of foreign af-
fairs, tomorrow