§ 45. Mr. Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will now publish all the official documents, papers and letters connected with the recent war against Egypt together with any hitherto secret agreements entered into with France in connection with the armed conflict with Egypt.
§ The Secretary of State for the Home Department and Lord Privy Seal (Mr. R. A. Butler)I have been asked to reply. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 2nd April.
§ Mr. LewisYes, but many months have passed since then. Can the Leader of the House give any sensible or logical reason why these papers should not now be published? There may possibly have been some reason while the war was going on—a war which the Government started—but can the Minister say why they should not be published now?
§ Mr. ButlerIt is not normally the practice for Her Majesty's Government to disclose the nature of confidential communications with other Governments, whether those are oral or written. Another reason is that the main despatch to which reference was made at the recent interchange at Question Time, namely, General Keightley's despatch, has already been published.