GREAT BRITAIN AND ITALY. (Hansard, 23 February 1938)

§ 47. Mr. Mander
asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange to publish all the recent relevant communications between the British and Italian Governments concerning the proposed negotiations?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir. I see no useful purpose which could be served by such publication.

§ Mr. Mander
In view of the profound difference in the accounts given of this communication by the Prime Minister and the late Foreign Secretary—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] In view of the profound difference disclosed, is it not only fair that the House should have an opportunity of making up its own mind on the matter? Will the Prime Minister be good enough to answer?

§ The Prime Minister
The hon. Member's question is whether I will arrange to publish all the recent relevant communications between the British and Italian Governments in regard to the proposed negotiations. That is a very unreasonable request, and one entirely without precedent.

§ Mr. Attlee
Did not the Prime Minister quote from certain documents, in the course of his speeches and, therefore, in accordance with Parliamentary practice should not these documents be laid?

§ The Prime Minister
I think the right hon. Gentleman is mistaken in saying that I quoted. I described some conversations which had taken place. I am within the recollection of the House that I did not actually quote words.

§ Mr. Benn
Is it not the practice of this House that if anything like extensive reference is made to certain documents, the House should have the right to see those documents?

§ Colonel Sir Charles MacAndrew
Is it not the case that if a document is quoted and it is not in the public interest to publish it, it is not laid?

§ Mr. Speaker
The Rule is that if an official document is quoted, that official document must be laid.

§ Mr. Mander
Did not the Prime Minister say in the Debate that he saw no objection to the documents being published?

§ The Prime Minister
If the hon. Member will look at the record of what I said—I have taken the trouble to look, in view of his question—he will see that what I said was that there was nothing in what had taken place that I should be afraid to publish, meaning to say that there was nothing of which I had any reason to be ashamed.

§ Mr. A. Henderson
In view of the wide divergence of opinion between the Prime Minister and the ex-Foreign Secretary on the interpretation of particular documents, does not the Prime Minister consider that it would be in the public interest to settle that disagreement?

§ The Prime Minister
No, Sir. The suggestion of the hon. Member appears to be that the decision of the Government turned upon the interpretation of certain documents, on which, as he says, there is a difference of opinion between the late Foreign Secretary and his colleagues. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture last night told the House that, as far as he was concerned, he did not at any time feel himself under threat or duress. I have since asked the rest of my colleagues whether they share that opinion, and they have unanimously told me that none of them felt under threat or duress in taking the decision they did. In these circumstances, although it is obvious that words may be interpreted differently by different people, the real point as to whether the Government were influenced in their decision by a threat, is obviously answered.

§ Mr. Mander
Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

§ 48. Mr. Mander
asked the Prime Minister whether the Government remain bound by the pledge of the late Foreign Secretary that anti-British propaganda must cease before Anglo-Italian negotiations can be entered upon?

§ The Prime Minister
I am not aware of any statement made by the late Foreign Secretary which could be regarded as a pledge binding His Majesty's Government of the kind suggested by the hon. Member. I have already explained to the House the principles on which these negotiations will be undertaken.

§ Mr. Mander
Did not the late Foreign Secretary in his speech to the House the other day make it perfectly clear that he regarded himself as pledged on behalf of the Government to this?

§ The Prime Minister
My recollection of what my right hon. Friend said was that he could not himself come and present to the House negotiations which were not in accordance with the views that he had previously expressed, but if the hon. Member can quote any words of my right hon. Friend which he thinks can fairly be considered as a pledge binding on the Government, I should be very glad to have them.

§ Mr. Cocks
Is the Prime Minister aware that on 23rd December, the Noble Lord the Member for South Dorset (Viscount Cranborne) told the House that the Foreign Secretary had informed the Italian Government that we could not consider negotiations until anti-British propaganda had been withdrawn?

§ The Prime Minister
I shall be glad to look into that, but, at any rate, it does not appear to be a pledge to this House.