HC Deb 27 November 1917 vol 99 c1804
2. Sir J. AGG-GARDNER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether letters addressed to Ambassadors and Ministers of Legations in neutral States sent from this country are subject to censorship; and, if so, for how long has this practice been established?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)

Private letters to Ambassadors and Ministers in neutral countries have been subject to censorship since the beginning of the present year. It was found that these letters occasionally contained communications for persons in enemy countries or territory occupied by the enemy. All letters are assumed to be "Private" in the absence of evidence to the contrary.

Mr. KING

Was the decision taken in consequence of the indiscretions in the correspondence of Lord Hardinge?

Lord R. CECIL

It was not.

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