HC Deb 05 May 1925 vol 183 c754
Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether letters, newspapers and other documents are sent to British representatives in Paris, Moscow, Rome and other capitals in sealed bags; do similar conditions apply in respect to foreign Ministers in this country; and, in this respect, a re the arrangements as to Russian newspapers coming into this country to the Russian Legation and British newspapers going to the British Legation in Moscow exactly similar to those which apply to other nations?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The answer lo the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. The answer to the third part is also in the affirmative, except that the contents of bags containing parcels and newspapers addressed to His Majesty's Charge d'Affaires at Moscow are examined by the Soviet Customs authorities, in the presence of a representative of the British Mission, for the purpose of assessing duty. On occasion we have exercised a similar right.