§ 62. Mr. BRUNNERasked the Postmaster-General whether he will allow letters which the senders desire to keep private from Government Departments to be sent by private messengers?
§ Mr. FORSTERIf the question refers to letters passing within the United Kingdom there would seem no objection, subject to the provisions of Section 34 of the Post Office Act, 1908. But since, as a rule, such letters are not subjected to censorship little advantage would accrue to the senders. If the question refers to letters to and from the United Kingdom, the answer is in the negative. Such a practice would contravene No. 24 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Since, moreover, only such trade letters as disclose transactions contrary to the public interest or contain information likely to con- 2064 duce to the successful prosecution of the War are passed to the Government Department concerned, the letters in question would probably be just those which it is desired to intercept.
§ 63. Mr. BRUNNERasked the Postmaster-General whether he will arrange to send an intimation to the senders of private letters when these letters have been submitted to a Government Department?
§ Mr. FORSTERI air afraid that that cannot be done.
§ Mr. BRUNNERAre they marked as having been passed through the Censor's office?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think that every letter that is censored bears the Censor's stamp.