§ 83. Mr. DILLONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that recently a parcel containing several copies of books written by Mr. Wilfrid S. Blunt, consigned to an Indian bookseller, was seized by the collector of Customs at Karachi; whether the books were examined, certain passages marked as objectionable, and after the lapse of a considerable time returned to the shipper in England in an unsaleable condition; under what law or regulation has this been done; whether it was done by the direction or with the approval of the Government of India; and whether it is the settled policy of the Government of India to exercise a censorship over books, magazines, and pamphlets imported from England?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Montagu)I have no information as to this particular case, but the importation into India of publications which, if produced in India, would fall within the scope of the Indian. Press Act, 1910, can be prevented either under that Act, or under the Indian Sea Customs Act, 1878, or, in certain cases, under the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. If he will permit me I will confer with my hon. Friend with a view to obtaining such further information as will enable me to make inquiries.
§ Mr. DILLONI thank the Under-Secretary, and I wish to give notice that I shall repeat the question in about ten days.