Oral Answers to Questions — China. – in the House of Commons at on 15 October 1941.
Colonel Josiah Wedgwood
, Newcastle-under-Lyme
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish as a white paper the full text of the declaration made recently by Lord Halifax concerning military action by this country on the Continent of Europe?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
The occasion to which I think my right hon. Friend refers was an informal one, and I doubt whether any full text exists. The circumstances do not seem to warrant the step suggested.
Sir Geoffrey Mander
, Wolverhampton East
Is it not desirable that this unfortunate indiscretion should be forgotten as soon as possible?
Mr Anthony Eden
, Warwick and Leamington
It seems to me that an exaggerated significance has been attached to it.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
A document issued by the Government laying out its policy, or proposed policy, on a topic of current concern.Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. This is a contrast with green papers, which are issued less frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation.
More from wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper
