§ LORD ADDISONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask a question of which I have given private notice. It is to ask whether His Majesty's Government have any statement to make regarding the publication of documents relating to British foreign policy in the years before the outbreak of the present war.
§ THE MINISTER OF ECONOMIC WARFARE (THE EARL OF SELBORNE)My Lords, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom have decided to publish the most important documents in the Foreign Office archives relating to British foreign policy between the years 1919 and 1939. The documents will be published in a series of volumes which will be issued one by one as and when they are ready. The volumes will form a chronological series, but in order to make available as soon as possible documents dealing with events most relevant to the outbreak of the present war it is proposed for purposes of publication to divide the work into two parts, the first part to begin with the year 1919 and the second to begin with the year 1930. The preparation of each part will be undertaken simultaneously.
THE EARL OF PERTHMy Lords, may I ask whether the noble Earl can tell me what method will be pursued in the selection of these documents? For instance, if there happen to be Dispatches of His Majesty's representatives abroad giving warnings which may not have been heeded or advice which may not have been followed, will these be included in the publication?
§ THE EARL OF SELBORNEMy Lords, the compilation of these documents will be undertaken by the well-known historian, Professor Woodward, of All Souls 322 College, Oxford, and the object of the compilation is to present an accurate historical record. Therefore any document that was materially important to the giving of a picture of historical truth would be included in the compilation.