In the Marconi Committee on Wednesday Major Archer- Shee gave
evidence which not only completely exonerated him from the charge of having opposed the Marconi contract because he was financially interested in a rival company, but showed how rightly careful he was to avoid the slightest suspicion of unworthy motives. Though bolding no official post, he refused to put any money in the Poulsen system "on the ground of being a public man," nor would be ask anybody else to do so. The contrast between such action and that of the three Ministers needs no comment. On Thursday Mr. Belloc came before the Committee. He refused to answer certain questions put to him, on the ground that by so doing he might prejudice the trial of Mr. Cecil Chesterton, which comes on at the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The room was cleared for a space of two hours while the Com- mittee debated in private, presumably whether they should make the attempt to compel an answer. When the public were again readmitted nothing more was said in regard to Mr. Belloc, and the examination of another witness was begun.
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