§ 5. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any documents in the possession of the War Office which relate to the activities of the late Earl Haig during the last War; and whether, in order to protect the deceased general's memory from attacks, he will cause these to be issued as a White Paper?
§ Sir V. WARRENDERThe Official Historian of the War has access to all War Office records and papers, and I do not think, therefore, that a White Paper, even if it could conveniently be prepared, would serve any useful purpose.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIf there is a conflict of evidence between the Official Historian and the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Carnarvon Boroughs (Mr. Lloyd George), is it not desirable, in the public interest, to clear the matter up?
§ Sir V. WARRENDERThe impartial history has been written by the Official Historian; I do not think I can add anything to that.
§ Mr. SHINWELLHave the War Office no opinion on this matter, and are they going to permit these aspersions on the memory of a deceased general to pass, without expressing an opinion?
§ Sir V. WARRENDERAs I say, the Official Historian has had full access to all the papers at the War Office, and they are innumerable, and we are satisfied that the impartial account of Earl Haig's activities has been written.
§ Mr. SHINWELLWhat is the opinion of the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. MAXTONHe has not got any.