We have not apace to-day to go into detail, but
before we leave the subject we should like to make one or two observa- tions on the whole matter. The valuable character of the "tip" given to Ministers by the Isaacs family is shown in its limited character. If it were true that the Ministers were in no better position than the public was in, for getting shares, they would have been able to buy any amount of them, but it is clear that they were not able to buy an unlimited amount. Otherwise Lord Murray, instead of buying for himself for 22 on April 17th and then buying for the unfortunate Liberal Party at 23 5s. twenty.four hours after- wards, would have carried out the whole transaction both for himself and for the party on the earlier date and at 22. Another point to be remembered lathe point of secrecy. Those who have studied the question of lllicit commissions and tips know that the test of wrongdoing is secrecy. If there is no secrecy and no need of secrecy, there is nothing flagitious. But secrecy was all over the Marconi business. Ministers did not dare let the world know what they had done.
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