HC Deb 23 October 1946 vol 427 c1636
7. Mr. Pickthorn

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to publish as a White Paper the British official documents of the tripartite negotiations in Moscow in 1939.

Mr. Bevin

It was considered inappropriate to publish these documents at a time when a common enemy had to be defeated, and I think it would be better not to revive these old controversies at a time when we are actively engaged in peace making.

Mr. Pickthorn

Does not the Foreign Secretary think that there would be less controversy if there were more facts?

Mr. Bevin

No, I do not think so. If you keep on raking up everything that has happened in the past—one against the other—you are apt to lose the possibilities of the future.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Does my right hon. Friend think that the answer which he has just made might equally well have applied to Question No. 2?

Mr. Bevin

No, I do not think so.

Mr. Thurtle

Does the right hon. Gentleman not realise that this business of raking up the past ought not to be a one-sided technique?

Mr. Bevin

I would like to say that we are not ashamed of our past.