Joys and Frustrations of FOIA

The author gives a brief account of his experience in utilizingthe United States Freedom of Information Act to obtain copiesof hitherto closed government documents dealing with Alliedintelligence operations in Shanghai and North China during theSecond World War. While describing some of the practical difficultiesinvolved for both researchers and government departments inworking with the Act, the author argues that similar legislationin the UK could benefit contemporary historians of Britain andof other countries whose records are often in large measureheld in Britain.