We do not by any means desire to take up
the irrational position that consultation between the Cabinet and the Law Officers of the Crown can always be avoided. Some- times it is unavoidable, and reference has been made in various speeches to instances of such _consultation in various Cabinets of the past. What can be avoided, however, and ought indeed to be avoided like the plague, is the exercise of frankly political pressure by the Cabinet on the Law Officers. Sir Edward Clarke has recalled a ease of many years ago when he was himself a Law Officer and threatened to resign if the Government of the day insisted on the withdrawal of a prosecution. There was nothing to be said for the accused person except that he had influential friends and that the Government wished to avoid a scandal. It has often been suggested that in order to prevent any co-operation between a Government and the Courts of Justice, the Attorney- General should never be included in the Cabinet. To sum up, there is enough material evidence against the Government in the Campbell case to justify a True Bill. An inquiry there ought to be.
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