§ 26. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Postmaster-General if a regulation has been issued by his Department prohibiting the sending of newspapers to neutral countries unless such papers are posted from the publishing offices; if so, what steps have been taken to make the public aware of this departure from the general practice; if newspapers sent by others than the publishers are destroyed; and will he give the reason for such a regulation which must cause inconvenience to the general public?
§ Mr. TENNANTMy right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am afraid the question of convenience of the general public is not the final criterion by which the desirability of regulations with a view to preventing enemy espionage must be judged. I understand that the practice to be followed has been announced to the public as far as was compatible with the object sought. No newspapers have been destroyed, except in those cases where the name and address of the sender could not be identified.