Behind the Brooke affair
Sir: Permit me to point out to Mr Mickle- wright who rejects (Letters, 9 August) my suggestion that releasing the Krogers will amount to interference with the law, that a few days ago no less a person than the former Senior Judge of the Queen's Bench Division, Sir Wintringham Stable, publicly affirmed that in his opinion the release of the Krogers will be illegal.
If, as Mr Micklewright suggests, the Gov- ernment intends legalising the Krogers' re- lease by exercising the royal prerogative of mercy, then I can only say that that prero- gative was never intended to be used as a means for enabling governments to carry out what they consider to be politically ex- pedient. It is incredible that the royal pre- rogative be used to secure the release of spies and traitors who are a great danger to Her Majesty's loyal subjects.
I suggest that the Government's behaviour in this matter would scarcely be any worse if it engaged the services of the enterprising Sean Alphonsus Burke. For a small con- sideration I'm sure he would enable the Government at least to maintain the pre- tence of legality—and with the minimum of fuss.
Previous page
