5.
Similarly, I regard it as most important that Her Majesty's Government should be able to with old from production any documents which show how or why the United Kingdom Government came to decide upon a specific matter of policy in relation to another country. The production of such documents would be likely to injure diplomatic relations with that country.
Disclosure of such documents would also impair the external relations of Her Majesty's Government because it would reveal confidential communications between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and members of the British Diplomatic Service posted abroad. A critical function of officials in British missions overseas is the provision of information. advice and recommendations to the Foreign and'' Commonwealth Office, based upon information derived, in part, from contacts in their host countries. Likewise the officials in the missions overseas receive information in the form of advice and instructions from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Such diplomatic communications must remain confidential, not only for the reasons set out above but also because their disclosure could embarrass other governments and thereby restrict or disrupt the ability of Officials in the Diplomatic Service to perform their duties overseas effectively.
6.
I object to the disclosure of the documents which fall within category C above by virtue of their being communications relating to the request for or the giving of advice and information with regard to the prosecution or potential prosecution of offences or relating to matters of policy regarding the conduct of such proceedings. By reason of their nature and purpose I regard it as necessary for the proper administration of justice that such communications should be withheld from production.