Most people will remember how fervently the Labour Party protested against Secret Diplomacy immediately after the War. With the cunning of the opportunist politician, its leading spokesmen traced the cause of the war to secret diplomacy, and all the white papers, pink papers and yellow papers were triumphantly flourished as a proof of this contention. Of course, all this was many years ago. Now that the Labour Party has become “The Government,” their attitude to this, as to many other questions, has undergone a change.
The Daily News for the 16th May reports a “scene” in the House of Commons that occurred the previous day, with Mr. Churchill as the centre.
It appears that Mr. Churchill read a telegram despatched by the Coalition Cabinet to Lord Balfour in 1921, during the Washington Naval Conference. It further appears that no Cabinet document can be read in Parliament without the consent of the King, which implies the consent of the existing Government, which “advises” the King.
When Churchill picked up the paper, “the Prime Minister looked up in surprise, and said in a low voice : ‘Are you going to read it?'” Churchill then read it. Ramsay MacDonald then asked Churchill if the paper had been published, to which a reply in the negative was given. After one or two further questions, Ramsay MacDonald then said : “I happen to know the document. Is this a Cabinet paper, and, if it is, has the right hon. gentleman got the usual leave for the disclosure of Cabinet documents.” Fenner Brockway followed by asking the Speaker if it was in order “for one who has been a member of a previous Cabinet to quote from Cabinet documents.” Lloyd George followed in a similar strain, and finally he and Ramsay MacDonald had a consultation behind the Speaker’s chair.
From this it will be seen that “secret diplomacy” still pursues its old course, and information of it only leaks out when politicians like Churchill don’t “play the game” or, in vulgar language, “play the dirty” ! Mr. MacDonald communicates Cabinet secrets to Liberal and Tory leaders, but not to the general public.
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That's the June 1930 issue of the Socialist Standard done and dusted.
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