§ MR. BOLANDI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in paragraph 4, page 442, of the Post Office Guide, with reference to letters addressed in the Russian language, it is stated that the name of the town and of the province should also be added in English, French, or German; and whether, in view of the fact that German characters, which are admittedly different from English, are recommended in the case of letters addressed from England 730 to Russia, he will state why Irish characters cannot be used in addressing letters and parcels in Ireland.
LORD STANLEYLetters from the United Kingdom for Russia centralise in London, where the French and German forms of the names of towns and provinces are sufficiently known for sorting purposes. I may point out to the hon. Member that the use of German characters is not recommended in the paragraph of the Post Office Guide to which he refers, but simply that of the German names of towns and provinces which may be, and quite commonly are, written in the same characters as English and French.
§ MR. BOLANDBut if there is nothing in the regulation to say that German characters must not be used, how does the noble Lord say they are not recommended?