Letter: Tsar secrets
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Letter:
Tsar secrets
Sir: What is the Foreign Office up to in trumpeting the release of "top secret" documents on the fate of the Romanovs (report, 23 July)?
All the "newly declassified" documents quoted in your article, and in a similar Times piece, were familiar to me. Tom Mangold and I obtained them at the Public Record Office as long ago as 1971, and used them for a BBC documentary and an investigative book, The File on the Tsar. Copies have been sitting in my loft ever since.
At the same time, however, we learned that British intelligence had been involved - with the connivance of King George V - in attempts to rescue the Russian Imperial Family. In 1974, one file on such operations certainly existed. The then Under-Secretary of State, Sir Anthony Royle, told us he had perused the Naval Intelligence dossier on a mission designed to bring the family out. He could not reveal its contents, he said, because he was bound not to by the Official Secrets Act.
If we really now live in an era of open government, how about letting us see that file, Mr Cook?
ANTHONY SUMMERS
Cappoquin, Co Waterford, Ireland
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments