Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-22
All England Agitated by Scandal
Hidden in Release of Graves,
and Liberal Member Announces
Plan to Exact an Explanation.
Secretary for Scotland Again
Pleads "RoyaI Prerogative. !"
His Salary To Be Attacked as
a Means to Bring Disclosure.
Special Gable to The American.

Special Gable to The American.
LONDON, June 21.-The mysteri-
Gus release of DR.. Armgaard Karl
Graves, the convicted German spy, is
to be thrown into the House of Com
mons for general debate.
A determined effort also will be
made to hold up the pay Of McKinnon
Wood, Secretary for Scotland, until ne
has given an adequate explanation of
the reasons which actuated the Gov
eminent in lberating Graves and has
cleared up the astounding revelations
which Graves has made in the col
umns of The American.
The plan to resort to these drastic
measures was announced to-day by
Joseph King. Liberal member for
North Somerset, after the Govern
ment. through McKinnon Wood, had
for the third time evaded answering
questions relative to the Graves scan
dal..
A crowded House listened once
more to-day to the Governments tao
it confession that there are involved
in the release of Graves seandalous
matters which will not bear the light
of day The question put down by
MIR. King follows;
To ask the Secretary for Scotland
what conditions, if any, were made to
apply to the release Of Armgaard Karl
Graves, who was released in Deem
Der last, and whether these condi-
tons if any, have been observed.
Wood Replies Peevishly.
McKinnon Wood. resenting the per
tinacity of Mr.. King, replied peev-
ishly:
q have nothing TO add to the an
swer gave my honorable friend on
last Tuesday"
On that occasion, it was announced
that precedent forbade any eXplana
ton of the exercise Of the royal pre-
rogative to pardon.
Plainly dissatisfied with the eva
sion. Mr. King asked:
"Will the Right Honorable Gentle
man be ready at a later date to give
some explanation of this very inter
esting and important matter?"
NO sir" replied the Secretary,
bluntly
"Then give notice." cried Mr..
King, chat | shall do everything
can to oppose him getting his salary
at ALL"
Before he could proceed further
the Speaker called for the next ques-
ton, which was on an entirely differ
ent subject, and thus, for the third
time, the Government had "burked"-
that is, smothered-the effort to have
light thrown upon the deep mystery
of Graves liberation.
Asks More Questions.
Mr. King at once returned to the
fight, however, and tabled two addi
tionaI questions for Thursday. at the
same time making known his inten-
ton to demand that the House pro-
coed to the unusual step of taking the
matter up for debate if the Govern
ment still declines to enlighten the
country.
Every indication points tonight
to an awakening of the whole nation
over the Graves matter. By its eva
sive attitude of hiding behind the
King, the Government has put itself
into a position of great delicacy the
consequences of which may be Sc
y!ous. Mr.. King said to the CORE
spondent tonight:
They say they have advised the
Crown to exercise the prerogative Of
mercy, but they don't divulge the ad-
vice they gave the Grown. have just
been speaking to Speaker Lother on
the subject. He said
ION. Mr. King, when you are kins
in reality. then you will alter all this;
but until you are king we must re-
tain some of our old-fashioned privi
leges of royalty. There are precious
few of them left these days, you
know"
Continuing, Mr.. King said:
This is a very interesting case, |
because it shows in what a different
position we are to republicans. Ac-
cordingly, I have put down two fur
Their questions for Thursday, as fol-
lows:
To ask the Secretary for Scotland
whether he got any request that
Graves should be set at liberty, ana
whether he had any request from any
private persons or from Graves him
self that he should be set at liberty.
And the second question: To ask
the Secretary of Scotland whether he
viii give the grounds for setting
Graves at liberty"