§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, as publishers of the book S.O.E. in France, in which doubt was cast on the worthiness of the George Crosses awarded to Mrs. Odette Hallowes and the late Mrs. Violette Szabo, whether they will take immediate steps to withdraw all unsold copies of the first edition of this book and state when a corrected reprint will be available.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD CHALFONT)My Lords, Mr. Foot and my honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs have made it clear that there was no intention of casting doubts on the worthiness of these awards. A reprint, incorporating Mr. Foot's proposed revisions to make this clear, will be published as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I do not think it necessary to withdraw the few remaining unsold copies.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer. May I ask him one or two questions? I do not know whether he has read this book. If he has, he will realise that there were also unjustifiable criticisms of books written by two authors, one by Mr. Jerrard Tickell, and the other by Mr. R. J. Minney. Mr. Tickell wrote the book about Odette Sansom and Mr. Minney about Violette Szabo.
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Order, order!
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLI am asking a question. I will start to do it now. Will the noble Lord take steps to see that corrections are made, or that something is done to withdraw these unjustifiable criticisms? May I also ask the noble Lord whether the corrections can be printed in such a form that they can be inserted in the copies of this book which have not been withdrawn—that is, in the first edition? May I also ask him whether he would take steps to see that offensive passages of this kind are withdrawn—
§ SEVERAL NOBLE LORDS: Order, order!
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLMay I ask the noble Lord to see that offensive passages of this kind are withdrawn? Is that a question?
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lords, since the noble Lord asked a question of the House, I suppose I must say something. I think he is straining the very elastic Rules of Order of this House.
§ LORD RUSSELL OF LIVERPOOLIf the noble Earl thinks that, it is not much use my going on, is it?