A Breviate of British Diplomatic Blue Books, 1919-1939

C. and by German propaganda that the Allied Governments had been responsible for the prolongation of the war, seem to have evoked the publication in August 1919 of the 1917 Peace Proposals of the Pope and the correspondence relative thereto (Item 25). [...] Here was an illustration of the direct conflict between the actions of a Prime Minister and the wishes of the Members of the House. [...] The Blue Books presented to the House in connection with these Treaties were all drafts and texts, and once again it may be noted that the press, rather than the Blue Books, was the main avenue through which the public and the members of Parliament were kept in- formed of the negotiations.20 The Labour Party did attempt to alter the procedure of Blue Book publication in one respect. [...] Ponsonby, on the occasion of the debate for the Lausanne Treaty Bill, said: "It is the intention of the Government to lay on the Table of both Houses of Parliament every treaty, when signed, for a period of 21 days, after which the treaty will be ratified and published and circulated in the Treaty Series."21 Mr. [...] The Opposition was not satisfied that the documents published in the Blue Book gave a true picture of the situation, and complained that only extracts of some of the documents had been given.25 When, however, in answer to criticism, Sir Austen read to the House that part of one of the documents which had not appeared in the Blue Book, it was evident that the extract had in no way misrep- resented