Sunday Telegraph
London,
DAVID IRVING, the Right-wing historian, narrowly escaped prosecution by Harold Wilson’s government after being found to have unauthorised access to highly classified papers.
“I am disturbed to note that you have in your possession a copy of a document in a top-secret category. This indicates that there may have been a breach of security and I must therefore ask you to return it to me and to undertake not to publish its contents.”
“We need to bear in mind in dealing with Irving that he is the sort of man that may well seek to make a cause celebre about this.”
“I am afraid that experience has taught me many sad lessons and I no longer lend people original documents from my collection. I would be prepared to supply you with a photocopy, although I cannot vouch for its quality as the document is a negative.”
“I remember writing to Mr Wilson asking for the papers and I can remember them asking me for proof which I offered to supply. I never did receive any sort of legal threat, however.”I was called to a meeting at the Cabinet Office. It was with Sir Burke Trend, the Cabinet Secretary, and an official called Evans. They advised me to tone down some of the information in the biography. They said that some of the data I had was wrong and I would make a fool of myself.
I believed them and changed the wording accordingly. I don’t think I would be so helpful now.”