§ Q5. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister when he intends to authorise the publication of official documents relating to British participation in the Korean War.
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no plan to publish these documents before they become available for public use at the end of the 50-year closed period imposed by the Public Record Act of 1958.
§ Mr. HendersonWould not the Prime Minister agree that British troops rendered conspicuous service in the Korean campaign, and will he take this opportunity of repudiating the statement recently attributed to the late General MacArthur that this country betrayed United Nations secrets to Communist China?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, I am glad that the rig it hon. and learned Gentleman asked this question because it gives me the opportunity to repudiate the statement which has already been denied by the United States Government.
§ Mr. ShinwellIn view of the very welcome announcement which he has just made, will the right hon. Gentleman make simile r representations to President Johnson in order to remove any doubts in the minds of American citizens?
§ The Prime MinisterI do not see why I should make representations to President Johnson when his Government have already denied the accuracy of these statements.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerIf it is not possible to release official documents, could we, perhaps, have an official history of the part played by our forces in Korea? Official histories have been written at times when the official documents had not yet been released.
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to consider what the right hon. Gentleman suggests.