ARMY CONTRACTS AND CORRUPTION.
[To TER EDITOR or TER " SPACTATOR..] SIR,—A great deal of attention has been devoted in the Press to Army contracts. Various complaints have been received by the Secret Commissions and Bribery Prevention League, Incorporated, but generally speaking the evidence as to criminal offences within the meaning of the Prevention of Corruption Act has proved unconvincing. As Mr. Harold Baker stated in the House of Commons the other day, "there is a distinction between charges of what may be called bad business and charges of corruption. They are very different things, and the distinction between them is not sufficiently made." The Committee of the League has reason to believe that the Army Council is alive to the dangers of the present time, and will not tolerate bribery or secret commissions ; but the War Office is a huge organization, and there is naturally great pressure now in all departments. The object of this letter is to suggest that where there is reasonable cause for suspicion the League should be informed immediately, inso- much as the League has eight years' experience of dealing with corrupt practices, and is accustomed to undertake careful investigation of complaints. All communications may be made to the Secretary of the League in full confidence that they will be regarded as strictly private and confidentiaL—I am, Sir, &o., THE SECRETARY. Secret Commissions and Bribery Prevention League, Incorporated, 9 Queen Street Place, E.C.
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