§ 78. Mr. Hoggasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what communications have passed between the Canadian and British Governments, relative to the publication of the letters known as the Drew letters, concerning Canadian troops at Hong Kong; and if he has now agreed to their publication.
§ Mr. Gordon-WalkerThere has been no correspondence between His Majesty's Governments in Canada and the United Kingdom about the publication of the letters from Colonel Drew to which the hon. Member refers. The Canadian Government inquired whether they might publish certain telegrams exchanged between the United Kingdom and Canadian Governments in 1941 relating to the despatch of Canadian forces to Hong Kong and to the situation in the Far East at that time. We replied agreeing to the publication of those telegrams which related to the despatch of the troops; but we said that we felt unable to agree to the publication of the telegrams relating to the international situation. Such telegrams are framed on the basis that they will not be published, and the whole system of full and frank communication between His Majesty's Governments would be prejudiced if telegrams of this nature had to be prepared on the basis that this rule might not eventually be observed. The question was very carefully examined at the highest level and the United Kingdom Government regret that they cannot reconsider their decision.