Downing Street refused to release details of a conversation between Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, according to newly-declassified government files.
Papers released to the National Archives at Kew show No 10 was happy to release dozens of other official documents relating to Diana’s death and funeral arrangements under the Freedom of Information Act. However, officials ruled that publication of a memo outlining the discussion between Mr Blair and Mr Chirac was “fundamentally not in the public interest”.
Diana died in the early hours of August 31 1997 when the car in which she was travelling with her partner Dodi Fayed crashed in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel. It was several hours before Mr Chirac could be contacted by his aides, leading to intense speculation about his whereabouts. His chauffeur later claimed he had been with a mistress.
The request for the release of UK government files was among the first considered under the FoI Act, which came into effect in 2005. Most papers were considered unexceptional, with one official noting: “I see nothing embarrassing for us as it shows No 10 getting on with the job.” However, regarding the Blair-Chirac conversation, the file stated: “It is vital that the prime minister’s conversations with other world leaders are essentially confidential in nature.”
Among the released papers were telegrams from the British ambassador to France, Sir Michael Jay, describing the French authorities’ response as “extraordinary generosity, efficiency and sensitivity”.
