§ 66. Mr. Wyattasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the trustees of the British Museum have refused permission to Mr. Randolph Hughes to 1253 examine a memorandum by Sir Edmund Gosse on certain aspects of the late Mr. A. C. Swinburne's private life, although this document has been shown to an American and although Mr. Hughes is engaged on a serious study of Swinburne's life.
§ Mr. JayThe contents of the memorandum, which Sir Edmund Gosse marked confidential, are such that in the opinion of the trustees it is for the present undesirable that it should be released for public use without the consent of his personal representative. An American applicant to see the memorandum has complied with this condition, and been given access to the volume. Mr. Randolph Hughes has been informed that it will be made available to him on compliance with this condition.
§ Mr. WyattIs my hon. Friend aware that the British Museum had no right whatever to impose any conditions of this sort; that they bought the manuscript in question at a public auction; and that they allow other documents marked "Confidential" to be shown to anybody on application?
§ Mr. JayIt has always been the normal practice, in cases of this kind, to restrict publication where living people were held to be affected.