§ 1. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the type of matter expunged from the published Part II Report on the White Slave Traffic; who did the editing, at whose orders, and to what extent in quantity; whether it is the intention to shield Governments or individuals; and whether he will urge before the League of Nations that widespread advertisement 376 of names and offences of nations and individuals is desirable, for the purposes of pillory?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Austen Chamberlain)Before authorising publication the Council of the League referred the Report to the Governments of the countries concerned for their observations. The replies were considered at a meeting of the Special Body of Experts, who, in the light of the further information available, corrected certain statements of fact and made some minor drafting amendments. Where the views of the experts differed from those of the Governments no alteration was made. No corrections were made except by the Body of Experts themselves and on their sole responsibility. The Council has authorised publication of Part II of the Report, together with the communications from the Governments and the Experts' comments. Copies of this document will shortly be available to the public. Whilst the Expert Committee categorically disclaim any intention of criticising any particular country, they make it clear that no amendments have been made with the object of shielding Governments or individuals. As regards the last part of the question, my Noble Friend will realise that the information could not have been obtained except under a promise of secrecy as to names.
§ Colonel DAYCan the Foreign Secretary assure the House that none of the expunged matter refers to Great Britain?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think I should be quite safe in saying that, but, as a matter of fact, I do not know what was expunged and what was not. Whatever alterations were made were made by the Body of Experts who prepared the original Report, because they thought it necessary to correct it in the light of the later information which they received.