The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-23
LLOYD GEORGE TO
PROBE HIDDENFOE
POWER INENGLAND

LONDON. June 23.-An announce
ment that Premier Lloyd George will
investigate what has been called here
the hidden hand" gives importance
to several proceedings that otherwise
by themselves might seem compare
lively negligible. The Times said:
at Is understood that the prime
minister is 50 seriously concerned in
regard to recent developments arising
out OF the treatment OF both natural
lied and unnaturaliIed aliens in this
country that he proposes to give per.
sonal attention to the subject H
VIII make q thorough investigation
OF measures taken by the foreign Of
nee and the hone office in their re.
spective spheres OF action with
view to Tightening up the system
which recently has left SO much tr
pc desired as to create considerable
missiving In the public mind"
Mrs. Harris Specially Favored.
First come the eourt-martial of 3
lieutenant who rebuked q colonel for
allowing Mrs. Leverton Harris to
visit Baron Leopold Won PIessen al
a prisoners camp under circum-
stances exceeding the regulations al
lowed to prisoners visitors. The col
onel showed that she had a written
request OF special treatment from an
official of the home secretary's Of
flee. Mrs. Harris is an Irish woman.
the wife OF the parliamentary secre-
tary OF the minister OF blockade. She
writes the Times that Plessen's aunt.
is an American and lives in Washing
ton. and that she knew his family.
but only visited Plessen four times
in four years.
Other notable Germans are pris-
oners in the same camp. The out
spoken lieutenant was acquitted and
the case received detailed publicity
as an additional incident, Indicating
TO the public mind that undue sym
pathy with alien enemies in high
quarters is exactly the kind OF J
thing which caused the public's ap-
prevail OF the acquittal Of Pember-
tol-Bilhng recently.
Public Watches Jonas Case.
The second incident is the arrest OF
Sir Joseph Jonas, formerly lord
mayor Of Sheffield. which followed
evidence in the police court to the
friends in Berlin OF gun secrets. new
factory plans, etc, at Vicker's works,
certainly before the war. He is also
accused OF 30 doing during the war.
His son Is a partner in the steel
business, and Carl Hahn. who changed
his name to Charles Vernon, helped
him get the information requested In
Berlin Vernon has been recently
employed by the ministry OF muni-
lions. Jonas 10 seventy-three years
old. The case Is still proceeding.
with the public watching it intently.
FaiI to UadeFstaEd Delay.
The third incident is the acute pub
lie discussion which has again been
revived over the hardness or apparent
to wind up big German
banks. The public does not under
stand the lax blockade OF Germany
since the beginning OF the war. the
Ienient treatment Of German prison
ers, hesitancy at retaliation, especial
ly in the direction OF bombing
German cities, and finally con-
cluded that there Is a hidden hand"
This feeling hes now grown so strong
and public protests are so persistent
that the announcement OF the pref
mier's concern Is not surprising
There IL a public determination ID
have the last remnants OF German I'M
filtration in influential British circle,
wiped out Pressure OF public opfnIoh
In this direction recently has been
acutely manifested.