HC Deb 13 July 1955 vol 543 cc1920-1
28. Mr. Elwyn Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when it is proposed to make available to historians and researchers the captured German documents, of which the British Government is joint owner, and which are now kept in the Pentagon Building in Washington.

Lord John Hope

The captured German military records which are held in Washington by the United States Government are freely placed at the disposal of the authors of the official histories of the war both in the United States and in this country.

Mr. Jones

Is there any reason why, ten years after the end of the war, this valuable historical material should not now be available to researchers in universities, such as the University of Munich, who are denied access to them? Why are they still locked up in the Pentagon in Washington, and why cannot they be made freely available?

Lord John Hope

There are still reasons connected with security.

Mr. Jones

How is that, ten years after the war?