HC Deb 23 February 1948 vol 447 c1582
13. Mr. Emrys Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what documents relating to Sir Oswald Mosley's visit to Italy and his relations with Italian Fascists were captured by the Allied Forces; and if he will publish them.

Mr. McNeil

Some documents interring that Sir Oswald Mosley was in the closest association with the Italian Fascist Government are in our possession. However, since our researches through the Italian papers and archives in our possession are not yet completed, and will proceed very slowly since the documents seem to be of secondary importance, I am not yet in a position to answer the second part of the Question.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

In view of the reemergence of this party and the fact that the matter can no longer be considered of secondary importance, will the Minister inquire whether or not there was any reference to financial assistance to this party in these documents?

Mr. McNeil

Whether or not they are of secondary importance depends, of course, upon what other work is in hand. We are working on a joint project for publishing papers from the German archives, and we consider that to be much more important work. As to the second part of the Question, I made it plain that we were talking about inferences, but I should not like to pretend that the subject of money did not figure in the correspondence.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Can the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will do nothing to raise Sir Oswald Mosley from secondary to primary importance?

Mr. Bramall

Even if my right hon. Friend cannot see his way to publish these documents, will he see that his right hon. Friend the Home Secretary is made aware of their contents?

Mr. McNeil

I have absolutely no doubt that my right hon. Friend is aware of them.

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