asked the Minister for External Affairs if, before the discussion on the motion for the ratification of the Kellogg Pact takes place, he will lay on the Table of the Dáil copies of such correspondence as passed between the Executive Council of the Saorstát and the British Government with reference to the Kellogg Pact.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - The Kellogg Pact.
I do not intend to lay on the Table copies of the correspondence referred to. It is not usual to publish the ordinary correspondence which takes place between the different members of the Commonwealth of Nations. To do so would make all constitutional progress impossible by putting a curb on the friendly interchange of views which forms the only possible basis of the special kind of relationship existing between the States members of the Commonwealth.
Secret diplomacy!
Otherwise we have no means of knowing, except the Minister in proposing the ratification of this document will give us a fairly full statement of the lines upon which the Governments, with which the Executive Council of the Free State were associated, agreed to sign. Unless we get a fairly full statement of the policy associated with the proposed ratification, we would be more or less agreeing to ratify in the dark—if we did agree. Perhaps, I am anticipating. Perhaps, the Minister will make a full statement. But from our point of view we think it would be certainly better and more satisfactory for all concerned. If there are any confidential documents, of course we will not ask to see them; I take it that is not the common practice. But the letters in which the policy was set out and the reasons given for the signing of this Pact ought, in our opinion, before ratification is agreed to, be published. I again ask the Minister, in case there are letters which are not confidential and which can be laid on the Table for the information of the House, would he not consider it judicious to do that?
If I might answer the supplementary question, I do intend to make a very brief statement, and to give very full answers to any questions that may arise.
Will the Minister state the reason for secrecy in this case?
I have read the reply.
Arising out of the reply, I ask will the Minister state the reason for maintaining secrecy.
I have already indicated it in the answer.
In this particular case of the Kellogg Pact, will the Minister state the reason for secrecy?
The answer is relevant to the Kellogg Pact.
I do not think so.