§ 45. Mr. Stokesasked the Prime Minister on what date he expects to make a report to the House as a result of the request he made, on or about 13th April, to General Wavell that he should appoint an officer to collect information regarding the loss of Malaya and Singapore and the conditions precedent thereto?
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Churchill)The various papers received from General Wavell as the result of the collection of material which he was directed to make are not suitable for publication in wartime.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask the Prime Minister whether it was not his intention, when he mentioned this matter to the House more than two months ago, that, when he had this information, he would make a further statement to the House?
§ The Prime MinisterI certainly never contemplated being committed to the publication of these documents, which were collected for the instruction and further information of the military authorities, and whether they should be made public 27 or not could only be decided after they had been seen. It clearly would cause a great deal of ill-will throughout the British Empire.
§ Mr. StokesWith all due respect, that is not my point. Was it not the intention of the Prime Minister, when he made a statement two months ago, that, when he got the information, quite regardless of whether he published reports in full, he would make a statement to the House, and will he re-read his own speech on this subject?
§ The Prime MinisterI have addressed myself to the Question on the Paper, and to some extent that answers the Supplementary Question of the hon. Gentleman, for I have no statement to make based on these documents at the present time.
§ Mr. StokesThen are we to understand that the Prime Minister does not propose to make any further statement?