63. Mr. MALONEasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Edgar T. Whithead, a member of the 1074 Workers' International Famine Relief Committee, was stopped by instructions of the Home Department on his arrival at Southampton from America on board the s. s. "Olympic," on Saturday, 25th February, and that all his papers, newspapers, notebooks, etc., were taken from him; if he will say whether any or all of these documents were considered illegal; if not, for what reason was all this private property retained; and under what laws and since when are such articles as American newspapers prohibited from being brought into this country?
§ 64. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. E. T. Whitehead, of the Workers' International Relief Committee, on his return from America recently, was met at Southampton by members of Scotland Yard's special branch and relieved of all his papers, notebooks, documents, and also of his passport and credentials; that none of these documents have been returned to him; whether this action on the part of the special branch had been authorised by him; and, if so, on what Act of Parliament was his authorization to annex the property of a private citizen based?
§ Mr. SHORTTIt is the case that Mr. Whitehead on arrival at Southampton was required to give up a number of papers in his possession before landing. This was not specifically authorised by me, but it was done at the instance of an officer of the special branch, who had grounds for thinking that Mr. Whitehead might be in possession of documents which it would be unlawful to circulate in this country. Some of the documents will, I understand, be returned to him. Others which appear to be of a seditious character will be retained, but if Mr. Whitehead disputes the legality of the action of the police it is open to him to take legal proceedings for their recovery.