HC Deb 11 February 1963 vol 671 cc918-9
18. Sir J. Langford-Holt

asked the Lord Privy Seal what opportunity was given to the persons named on pages 1062–1069 of Series C Volume IV of Documents on German Foreign Policy 1918–1945 to see the proposed text and to comment thereupon.

Mr. P. Thomas

Under the Exchange of Letters of 14th March to 12th April, 1956, (Command 37) between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the transfer to the Federal Republic of the archives of the former German Foreign Office, access to these documents is given at all times. Photostat copies of the documents covering the period since 1918 are also available for public research in London and in Washington. In these circumstances it is not normal practice to inform all those referred to prior to publication.

Sir J. Langford-Holt

In view of the fact that this concerned the views and attitudes of distinguished people, including the King at the time, would it not have been a little more courteous to have shown them these documents which it was intended to publish and to have invited their comments upon their contents—in view of the fact that these comments in the documents were made, after all, by an emissary of Hitler and there is some doubt as to their truth?

Mr. Thomas

Well, it is true that the attention of His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor, whose name appears with those of 28 other persons in the pages referred to by my hon. Friend, would normally have been drawn to the contents of this text before publication. It is regretted that, due to an administrative oversight—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—His Royal Highness's attention was not so drawn in this case and an apology has been made to His Royal Highness.

Mr. Gordon Walker

Would the views of the other 28 people named also have been drawn to this, or would it only have been the Duke of Windsor whose attention would have been drawn to these documents?

Mr. Thomas

Normally it would have been only the attention of His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor.

Mr. Gordon Walker

On what ground would that distinction be made? After all, the other 28 people also have reputations to guard and protect and have a right to make comments.

Mr. Thomas

The other people are private persons and these documents are open to inspection by them. His Royal Highness the Duke of Windsor was in an official position in Britain at the time, as King.