§ 91. Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the Postmaster-General whether he has made any representations to other Government Departments as to the length of Government cable messages and as to the comparative unimportance of some of the subjects cabled about; whether there is any check on extravagance in the use of cables by Government Departments; and if he is aware of the delay in trans- 2237 mitting commercial messages owing to the congestion caused by Government business on the lines?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am fully aware of the delay to commercial messages which is caused by the pressure of Government traffic, and I have made repeated representations to other Government Departments in the sense suggested. These representations have, I think, had some effect as regards outward traffic, but practically none as regards inward. The Post Office from time to time draws attention to individual messages which it seems unnecessary to send by telegraph, but the only check which can be relied upon is that of the controlling officers of the various Departments. The whole question is under the consideration of the War Cabinet Committee on Unemployment and State of Trade.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently a cable was fourteen days being delivered from Alexandria, and that a large order, which would have helped our export trade, was thereby lost; and is he further aware that a considerable number of messages are held up on arrival in London by the Censor's Department for a period of ten days?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHI am sorry; I am aware of the facts referred to in the first part of the hon. Member's question, but I have not heard of the delay in London. If the hon. Baronet will be good enough to give me any instances I will have them inquired into to see the reason.
§ Captain WEDGWOOD BENNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recently the wires were held up for some time while a priority message was, at the public expense, sent from the War Office recommending a party candidate at a by election?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHNo, Sir, I am not.
§ Sir D. MACLEANHas not the right hon. Gentleman arrived at the conclusion that the Censor's Department should now be demobilised?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHThat question should be addressed to the Secretary of State for War.
§ 92. Sir A. WILLIAMSONasked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the congestion on the cables and the ter- 2238 mination of hostilities, the use of private codes with India and Overseas Possessions for commercial purposes can now be permitted; whether registered telegraphic addresses from and to the Continent may now be used; and whether the practice of compelling persons to sign their Christian name as well as their surname to a cable can now cease?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. As I stated on Monday last, the use of private codes cannot be permitted so long as it is necessary to maintain the censorship, and the same applies to registered telegraphic addresses on the Continent. I am not aware of any regulation requiring persons to sign their Christian names in addition to their surnames.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONCan the right hon. Gentleman not permit the use of private codes to countries outside Europe, such as South America? If he cannot give any such general permission, and it is necessary to impose a limit, could not old-establishedand well-known firms be permitted to use their private codes?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIf my right hon. Friend will communicate with me, I will look into the matter; but the rules governing the censorship are the result of a good deal of painful experience.
§ 93. Sir FREDERICK BANBURYasked the Postmaster-General whether letters and telegrams take six days and three days, respectively, between London and Brussels; and whether he can expedite their delivery?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHIt has not yet been found practicable to establish a daily steamer service between this country and Belgium, and letters are sometimes delayed forty-eight hours for that reason. Some delay is also caused by the postal censorship, and by the difficulties of internal communication in Belgium. Many letters are nevertheless exchanged between London and Brussels in considerably less than six days. The direct cables to Belgium have not yet been repaired owing to the presence of mines on the line of route, and telegrams are therefore forwarded viamp#x00E2; France and Holland. The cables to these countries have been much congested, and this, added to difficulties of internal communication, has caused heavy delay on 2239 telegrams to and from Belgium. Every effort is being made to improve both postal and telegraphic communication.