5. Mr. Pickthorn asked the Assistant Postmaster-General, as representing the Ministry of Information, who are the persons in the United States concerned with British affairs, though they are not British officials, to whom B.I.S. Notes are issued; why Volume I, No. 1, described a declaration by the Foreign Secretary as expressing his personal rather than the Cabinet's view; and why it gave the impression that there is practically parliamentary unanimity in favour of merging the duty of deciding matters which affect the life and death of the people in the greater power of a directly-elected assembly.
§ Mr. BurkeB.I.S. Notes are distributed primarily for the background use of British officials in the United States, but are also circulated among United States Government officials, editors, writers and broadcasters who have expressed an interest in British affairs.
The issue in question drew attention to my right hon. Friend's suggestion, in the foreign affairs Debate on 23rd November, of a directly-elected world assembly, which hon. Members will no doubt recall he himself stated was a personal not a Cabinet view. I do not think that the statements in this Note bear out the contention in the last part of the Question.
§ Mr. PickthornCan we be told what machinery there is for vetting these Notes? Are they submitted to the British Embassy, or who vets them before they are published in the United States?
§ Mr. BurkeThey are sent out from this country, and, I understand, the information is put together in the United States.
§ Mr. PickthornAre we to understand that these Notes are composed in this country, and sent direct from this country to that? If so, what Minister in this country is responsible for their composition?
§ Mr. PickthornMay I return to my original supplementary question? What machinery is there for vetting them in the United States before they are published?