HC Deb 17 June 1912 vol 39 cc1288-9
2. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman has received any expressions of opinion from hon. Members of this House that the Papers in the case of Miss Malecka should be published; and whether he will now agree to this being done?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)

"I" in this answer refers to the Secretary of State and not to myself. I have seen that some Members have expressed a desire for Papers, but I certainly understood that the commutation of the sentence by the Emperor and the release of Miss Malecka were regarded as disposing satisfactorily of the case, and that that was the general sense of the House when the announcement was made. I have no reason to suppose that I was mistaken in this, and I cannot see what good purpose would now be served by the publication of Papers.

Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD

As the hon. Member takes the view, or does he not take the view, that this case is the second that has occurred under very similar conditions; and under these circumstances does he not see his way to publish at least the report of the trial which he promised to this House if the House desires it?

Mr. ACLAND

We have a report of the trial, which is a reproduction of a report which appeared in a Warsaw paper, and I think there would be very little, if any, objection to publishing that, if that is the only Paper the publication of which is desired. That is, in no sense, a special report, but nevertheless we believe it is an accurate report of the trial.

Mr. KING

Will the hon. Member allow those Members of the House really interested in this matter to inspect the documents at the Foreign Office?

Mr. ACLAND

I do not think I can do that. If it is the general sense of the House that it would be better not to publish these Papers, I think it would not be the general sense of the House that anything of that kind should be done. With regard to the suggestion I made that it might be possible to publish this full report of the trial perhaps my hon. Friend will communicate with the Secretary of State what he thinks about it.

Sir GEORGE YOUNGER

Would it not set up an extremely awkward precedent to publish an unofficial report in that way?

Mr. ACLAND

It would simply be the publication of what we consider to be a full, complete, and accurate report of the trial, and if that is asked for by the general sense of the House I am instructed to say that my right hon. Friend does not see any objection to that being published. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]