Sidney Stanley

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Sidney Stanley
Sidney Stanley

Sidney (or Sydney) Stanley (né Solomon Wulkan, alias Solomon Koszyski,[1] alias Stanley Rechtand[2], later Schlomo ben Chaim[3]) (1899/1905[4] - ?) was a Jewish Polish emigré to the UK who became a businessman of precarious ethics before claiming to be a contact man, able to influence politicians and civil servants in return for cash bribes, claims that led to a great scandal and investigation by the Lynskey tribunal of 1948.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Stanley was the eldest son of twelve children born in Poland. He had emigrated to Britain with his father[5] in 1913,[2] the rest of the family following when the two had settled in Aldgate.[5] Though he later claimed to have been born in Oswiecim, Austria, he was granted a Polish passport in 1927.[6] He gave a fairly ambiguous account of his early career but seems to have been employed from age 14 in garment sales and trading, especially in government contracts.[7] He took his mother's name Koszyski.[1]

He married his first wife Kate Zeitlin after World War I and the couple lived in Stoke Newington with Zeitlin's mother.[5]

Stanley was made bankrupt in 1927, under the name Wulkan, and again in 1936, under the name Blotz.[8] A deportation order was made against him in 1933 for conspiracy to defraud[1] though he proved untraceable.[9] However, by 1946, he had established himself in a luxurious seven-room apartment in Park Lane.[10]

[edit] Meeting with Gibson

According to Stanley, in 1946, he was returning by train from a business trip to Manchester when the guard enquired whether he would make up a foursome for a game of solo whist with some other men. He consequently met George Gibson, a director of the Bank of England.[11] Gibson's account is that his party had asked Stanley for small change for their game and that Stanley had recognised Gibson through a common acquaintance, Cyril Ross.[12]

Gibson met Stanley several more times on the Manchester train before, in April 1947, running into him in the company of Marcus Wulkan, an American who had been involved in economic assistance to Britain during World War II and who was slightly known to Gibson. Stanley represented Wulkan as being his brother. Gibson invited the two to dinner, where they now met junior government minister John Belcher, and after that Gibson visited Stanley's Park Lane home frequently.[11] At a subsequent dinner party attended by Morgan Phillips and four other Labour MPs, Stanley became involved in raising finance for the anti-communist "Freedom and Democracy" organisation.[11] though he appears to have done little more that donate a cheque for GBP50 which was dishonoured.[13]

In October 1946, Stanley approached fur-dealer Cyril Ross, the common acquaintance from the Manchester train, with a business proposition. Ross said that he would be interested in a multiple store such as J. Jones of Manchester. Stanley agreed to pursue the matter and also to get permission for floatation as a public company from the Capital Issues Committee. Stanley, somewhat prematurely, offered a directorship in J. Jones to Gibson who, owing to his position, turned it down. Ross had originally intended that Stanley would be renumerated by equity in the new company but he ultimately lost trust, largely because of the extortionate expenses that Stanley regularly claimed, and agreed only to a fee for the work.[14]

In February 1948, Gibson introduced Financial Secretary to the Treasury Glenvil Hall to Stanley, believing that Marcus Wulkan might be in a position to arrange an American loan of GBP250 million to the UK government. At a dinner for Gibson on 23 March, Stanley ensured that he sat next to Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin.[15]

[edit] Entertaining Mr Belcher

Belcher was keen to network with industrialists and was flattered by Stanley's apparent solicitude. The two rapidly became friends and Stanley offered Belcher use of a house that he had rented at Margate for the duration of the 1947 Labour Party conference. Belcher took the opportunity to invite his wife, children and mother for a two-week vacation, and it soon became apparent to Stanley that the party was too large for his rented house. Stanley booked the party into an hotel in Cliftonville and, though Belcher at this point became nervous, Stanley insisted and prevailed. In the end, Belcher indulged himself thoroughly and the friendship between the pair became increasingly intimate.[16]

Stanley pressed more and more gifts of food and wine, a gold cigarette-case and ultimately a suit of a quality beyond the means, and clothing coupons, of a junior minister in post-war Britain. Stanley was full of rather vague industrial and commercial propositions that never came to any resolution.[17] Stanley also paid for suits for Gibson and Minister of Works Charles Key.[18]

Several people warned of Stanley's unreliability including: Hugh Dalton, Leonard Joseph Matchan and Morgan Phillips.[19]

[edit] Football pools

Harry Sherman was a director of Shermans Pools Ltd of Cardiff, a football pools promoter. The post-war paper-shortage had led the government to make an allocation of paper to the Football Pool Promoters' Association and to leave the association to share it among its members. Sherman believed his share to be unjust and took every opportunity to canvass anyone who could influence his case or find him an alernative source. However, Sherman's record of complaints of his misconduct in a closely regulated industry led the Board of Trade to start a prosecution against the company in January 1948. The magistrate who heard the case died before giving judgment and Sherman and his legal team galvanised into action to prevent a new hearing. Belcher was the minister responsible and was inundated with protests.[20] Stanley contacted Sherman sometime in May, claiming to have already discussed the paper problems with Sherman's brother.[21]

In May, Stanley introduced Sherman to Gibson and to Glenvil Hall. Sherman sought a public floatation of Shermans Ltd but needed the permission of the Capital Issues Committee though neither politician was optimistic. Stanley also canvassed Key over some premises that he was attempting to sell to Sherman.[22]

On 20 April, Stanley invited Belcher to stop by his Park Lane apartment. When he arrived he found Sherman. Belcher left angrily and later rebuked Stanley. Belcher decided to drop the prosecution against Sherman but the allocation of paper was now under his direct control and Sherman became still more insistent in seeking to increase his ration. Stanley continued to intercede on Sherman's behalf and Belcher agreed to meet with Sherman and the civil servant in charge of paper rationing on 24 June. At this meeting, Sherman revealed that he had been routinely exceeding his allocation. The government team were appalled and stopped the meeting indicating that they considered the matter a serious one and that an investigation would be inevitable.[23]

Before the investigation could get under way, Sherman alleged that he had paid Stanley so that Stanley in turn could pay GBP2,500 each to Belcher and Sir Frank Soskice, the Solicitor General. Sherman also claimed that he had loaned GBP12,000 to Stanley, secured by a GBP27,000 cheque made out to Lass& Co.[24] The cheque turned out to be a forgery, made out on a stolen blank cheque.[25] Appalled, and becoming increasingly aware that rumours were beginning to circulate, Belcher tried to warn Gibson but could not contact him. Senior civil servants had now become aware of the allegations and the police were involved. Belcher agreed that the Lord Chancellor William Jowitt, 1st Earl Jowitt should be alerted and asked to investigate.[26] On 24 September, Belcher received a request from Jowitt that he provide a statement about his dealings with Stanley.[27] On 4 October, the first rumours, though no names, appeared in the press.[28]

[edit] Stanley's arrest

Jacob Harris was a supplier of amusement machines whose solicitor also acted for Stanley. The solicitor had originally met Stanley through serving a bankruptcy notice on him and had ended up as his attorney. The original debtor never got paid. Stanley boasted of his surplus import licenses and the solicitor advised Harris whom he knew wanted to import pinball machines.[29] In July 1948, Harris approached fellow supplier Francis Price with a proposal that they meet with Stanley. Stanley claimed that he could bribe Belcher and Financial Secretary to the Treasury Glenvil Hall to obtain licenses. After canvassing some commercial and political confidantes. Price contacted the police. Press speculation intensified.[30]

On 27 August, Stanley asked Gibson to write letters of introduction for his wife, who was about to leave for the U.S., to some of Gibson's trade union colleagues there. Gibson complied and Stanley used the letters to attempt to obtain from HM Treasury foreign currency above the usual allowance. Stanley's approach alerted officials to the possibility that he was about to flee the country.[31] 27 August was also the day when Gibson sent a cheque for GBP500 to Stanley as deposit on a share offer in Gray's Carpets Ltd. Gibson heard nothing more from Stanley.[32]

Stanley was arrested on 18 October and held in Brixton Prison. Spartan though his surroundings were, he was able to order meals from a restaurant and pay another detainee for domestic duties.[33] He was bailed on 21 October and returned to his Park Lane flat where his movements were restricted under the Aliens Order 1946[34]

[edit] The tribunal

Main article: Lynskey tribunal

A tribunal was convened. Stanley, dapper in appearance, proved a self-important, self-agrandising witness who amused the tribunal with his isiosyncratic, colourful, yet ambiguous and contradictory, responses to the questioning. The tribunal found that Belcher and Gibson had acted improperly and they were furtunate to escape prosecution, gladly accepting the profered alternative of resignation. Attorney-General Sir Hartley Shawcross expressed the opinion that Stanley could not be prosecuted as the notoriety he gained from the tribunal would inhibit a fair trial.[35]

[edit] After the tribunal

On 23 December, Stanley applied for cancellation of his deportation order but was refused.[36] However, while Gibson and Belcher were resigning in disgrace, Stanley and his wife were enjoying their notoriety and celebrity, attending the Chelsea Arts Ball at New Year.[37]

Stanley claimed Israeli citizenship, in February 1949, the UK having recognised the state on 29 January. On 13 February, Stanley's application was refused on the grounds that he was an undesirable. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz attacked Stanley as a Jew who "suddenly discovered his love for Zion" when in difficulties and there was speculation that Stanley had done his case no good when he criticised the conduct of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War during his tribunal testimony. Stanley continued to entertain and enjoy his celebrity, despite continued calls for his deportation, while he was again pursued by the bankruptcy courts.[38]

Stanley was still required daily to report to police but reported for the last time on 1 April and an arrest warrant was issued. Stanley, it appears, drove to Ramsgate where a personal friend took him by sea to a port near Bologne France, possibly Dunkirk. He was taken from there by car to Abbeville. On 13 April, Israel announced that Stanley would be allowed to enter on the eve of Passover as "an act of grace and mercy". After about a month in France, Stanley travelled to Marseilles. He arrived by ship in Haifa on 9 May and held a press conference announcing that his name was now Schlomo ben Chaim. Stanley claimed to have been kidnapped and held in France for month before escaping. Sometime later in 1949, Stanley returned to France with some thoughts of re-establishing himself in business though he was back in Israel in 1950 where he spent the remainder of his life in obscurity save for th wild allegations and fanciful stories that he continued to press on the newspapers.[39]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Wade Baron (1966) p.161
  2. ^ a b Wade Baron (1966) p.136
  3. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.246
  4. ^ Wade Baron (1966) at p.63 claims that Stanley was 43 at the time of the tribunal but at pp136-137 he suggestst that he was 14 in 1913
  5. ^ a b c Account of his wife, published in the Sunday Dispatch 30 January 1949, quoted in Wade Baron (1966), p.237
  6. ^ Wade Baron 1966) p.242
  7. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp136-137
  8. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.143
  9. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.243
  10. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.18
  11. ^ a b c Wade Baron (1966) p.139
  12. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.170
  13. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.180
  14. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp126-127
  15. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.176
  16. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp16-18
  17. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.23
  18. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.121
  19. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.24
  20. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp26-27
  21. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.83
  22. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.91
  23. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp27-29
  24. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.29
  25. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.32
  26. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp33-34
  27. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.36
  28. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.37
  29. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.72
  30. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp37-39
  31. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.178
  32. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.172
  33. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp39-40
  34. ^ SR&O No.395. of 1946
  35. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.232
  36. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.225
  37. ^ Wade Baron (1966) p.226
  38. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp242-244
  39. ^ Wade Baron (1966) pp244-250

[edit] Bibliography

  • Wade Baron, S. (1966). The Contact Man: The Story of Sidney Stanley and the Lynskey Tribunal. Secker & Warburg. 
  • Stanley, S. (1949) "How I made my escape" The People, 15 May